Methods and compositions for enhancing detection in determinations employing cleavable electrophoretic tag reagents

ABSTRACT

Probe sets for the multiplexed detection of the binding of, or interaction between, one or more ligands and target antiligands are provided. Detection involves the release of identifying tags as a consequence of target recognition. The probe sets include electrophoretic tag probes or e-tag probes, comprising a detection region and a mobility-defining region called the mobility modifier, both linked to a target-binding moiety. The probes comprise interactive functionalities adjacent the cleaved portion positioned in the probes such that the interactive functionality does not form part of the e-tag reporters. Target antiligands are contacted with a set of e-tag probes and the contacted antiligands are treated with a selected cleaving agent resulting in a mixture of e-tag reporters and uncleaved and/or partially cleaved e-tag probes. The mixture is exposed to a capture agent effective to bind to uncleaved or partially cleaved e-tag probes, followed by electrophoretic separation. In a multiplexed assay, different released e-tag reporters may be separated and detected providing for target identification.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of Ser No. 09/698,846 filed 27 Oct. 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,627,400, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 09/602,586 filed 21 Jun. 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,514,700, which, with Ser. No. 09/684,386 filed 04 Oct. 2000 now abandoned, are continuation-in-part applications of Ser. No. 09/561,579 filed 28 Apr. 2000 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,682,857, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 09/303,029 filed 30 Apr. 1999 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,362,780, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to separable compositions, methods, and kits for use in multiplexed assay detection of the interaction between ligands and target antiligands. The methods and compositions of the invention find application to the area of purification of mixtures comprising molecules of interest to separate unwanted materials from the molecules of interest. The invention has particular use in multiplexed assays for polypeptides and polynucleotides in which separable electrophoretic tag reagents are employed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The need to determine many analytes or nucleic acid sequences (for example multiple pathogens or multiple genes or multiple genetic variants) in blood or other biological fluids has become increasingly apparent in many branches of medicine. Most multi-analyte assays, such as assays that detect multiple nucleic acid sequences, involve multiple steps, have poor sensitivity, a limited dynamic range (typically on the order of 2 to 100-fold differences and some require sophisticated instrumentation. Some of the known classical methods for multianalyte assays include the following:

-   -   a. The use of two different radioisotope labels to distinguish         two different analytes.     -   b. The use of two or more different fluorescent labels to         distinguish two or more analytes.     -   c. The use of lanthanide chelates where both lifetime and         wavelength are used to distinguish two or more analytes.     -   d. The use of fluorescent and chemiluminescent labels to         distinguish two or more analytes.     -   e. The use of two different enzymes to distinguish two or more         analytes.     -   f. The use of enzyme and acridinium esters to distinguish two or         more analytes.     -   g. Spatial resolution of different analytes, for example on         arrays, to identify and quantify multiple analytes.     -   h. The use of acridinium ester labels where lifetime or         dioxetanone formation is used to quantify two different viral         targets.

As the human genome is elucidated, there will be numerous opportunities for performing assays to determine the presence of specific sequences, distinguishing between alleles in homozygotes and heterozygotes, determining the presence of mutations, evaluating cellular expression patterns, etc. In many of these cases one will wish to determine in a single reaction, a number of different characteristics of the same sample. In many assays, there will be an interest in determining the presence of specific sequences, whether genomic, synthetic, or cDNA. These sequences may be associated particularly with genes, regulatory sequences, repeats, multimeric regions, expression patterns, and the like. There will also be an interest in determining the presence of one or more pathogens, their antibiotic resistance genes, genetic subtype and the like. The need to identify and quantify a large number of bases or sequences, potentially distributed over centimorgans of DNA, offers a major challenge. Any method should be accurate, reasonably economical in limiting the amount of reagents required and provide for a highly multiplexed assay, which allows for differentiation and quantitation of multiple genes, and/or SNP determination, and/or gene expression at the RNA or protein level.

The need to study differential expression of multiple genes to determine toxicologically relevant outcomes or the need to screen transfused blood for viral contaminants with high sensitivity is clearly evident. Finally, while nucleic acid sequences provide extreme diversity for situations that may be of biological or other interest, there are other types of compounds, such as proteins in proteomics that may also offer opportunities for multiplexed determinations.

There is and will continue to be comparisons of the sequences of different individuals. It is believed that there will be about one polymorphism per 1,000 bases, so that one may anticipate that there will be an extensive number of differences between individuals. By single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) is intended that there will be a prevalent nucleotide at the site, with one or more of the remaining bases being present in a substantially smaller percent of the population. While other genetic markers are available, the large number of SNPs and their extensive distribution in the chromosomes make SNPs an attractive target. Also, by determining a plurality of SNPs associated with a specific phenotype, one may use the SNP pattern as an indication of the phenotype, rather than requiring a determination of the genes associated with the phenotype. For the most part, the SNPs will be in non-coding regions, primarily between genes, but will also be present in exons and introns. In addition, the great proportion of the SNPs will not affect the phenotype of the individual, but will clearly affect the genotype. The SNPs have a number of properties of interest. Since the SNPs will be inherited, individual SNPs and/or SNP patterns may be related to genetic defects, such as deletions, insertions and mutations, involving one or more bases in genes. Rather than isolating and sequencing the target gene, it will be sufficient to identify the SNPs involved. In addition, the SNPs may also be used in forensic medicine to identify individuals.

Thus, an assay for the differentiation and quantitation of multiple genes, and/or SNP determination, and/or gene expression at the RNA or protein level, that has higher sensitivity, a large dynamic range (10³ to 10⁴-fold differences in target levels), a greater degree of multiplexing, and fewer and more stable reagents would increase the simplicity and reliability of multianalyte assays, and reduce their costs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Holland (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1991) 88:7276) discloses that the exonuclease activity of the thermostable enzyme Thermus aquaticus DNA polymerase in PCR amplification to generate specific detectable signal concomitantly with amplification.

The TaqMan® assay is discussed by Lee in Nucleic Acid Research (1993) 21:16 3761).

White (Trends Biotechnology (1996) 14(12): 478-483) discusses the problems of multiplexing in the TaqMan assay.

Marino, ElectroPhoresis (1996) 17:1499 describes low-stringency-sequence specific PCR (LSSP-PCR). A PCR amplified sequence is subjected to single primer amplification under conditions of low stringency to produce a range of different length amplicons. Different patterns are obtained when there are differences in sequence. The patterns are unique to an individual and of possible value for identity testing.

Single strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) yields similar results. In this method the PCR amplified DNA is denatured and sequence dependent conformations of the single strands are detected by their differing rates of migration during gel electrophoresis. As with LSSP-PCR above, different patterns are obtained that signal differences in sequence. However, neither LSSP-PCR nor SSCP gives specific sequence information and both depend on the questionable assumption that any base that is changed in a sequence will give rise to a conformational change that can be detected. Pastinen, Clin. Chem. (1996) 42:1391 amplifies the target DNA and immobilizes the amplicons. Multiple primers are then allowed to hybridize to sites 3′ and contiguous to a SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) site of interest. Each primer has a different size that serves as a code. The hybridized primers are extended by one base using a fluorescently labeled dideoxynucleoside triphosphate. The size of each of the fluorescent products that is produced, determined by gel electrophoresis, indicates the sequence and, thus, the location of the SNP. The identity of the base at the SNP site is defined by the triphosphate that is used. A similar approach is taken by Haff, Nucleic Acids Res. (1997) 25:3749 except that the sizing is carried out by mass spectrometry and thus avoids the need for a label. However, both methods have the serious limitation that screening for a large number of sites will require large, very pure primers that can have troublesome secondary structures and be very expensive to synthesize.

Hacia, Nat. Genet. (1996) 14:441 uses a high-density array of oligonucleotides. Labeled DNA samples were allowed to bind to 96,600 20-base oligonucleotides and the binding patterns produced from different individuals were compared. The method is attractive in that SNPs can be directly identified, but the cost of the arrays is high and non-specific hybridization may confound the accuracy of the genetic information.

Fan (1997, Oct. 6-8, IBC, Annapolis Md.) has reported results of a large scale screening of human sequence-tagged sites. The accuracy of single nucleotide polymorphism screening was determined by conventional ABI resequencing.

Ross in Anal. Chem. (1997) 69:4197 discusses allele specific oligonucleotide hybridization along with mass spectrometry.

Brenner and Lerner, PNAS (1992) 89:5381, suggested that compounds prepared by combinatorial synthesis can each be labeled with a characteristic DNA sequence. If a given compound proves of interest, the corresponding DNA label is amplified by PCR and sequenced, thereby identifying the compound.

W. Clark Still, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,565,324 and in Accounts of Chem. Res., (1996) 29:155, uses a releasable mixture of halocarbons on beads to code for a specific compound on the bead that is produced during synthesis of a combinatorial library. Beads bearing a compound of interest are treated to release the coding molecules and the mixture is analyzed by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,807,682 describes probe compositions for detecting a plurality of nucleic acid targets.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment the present invention is directed to methods for isolating signal of interest from other signal that may be present in a mixture of components. Usually, the mixture comprises a predetermined portion of a reagent that is released from the reagent during a reaction. The predetermined portion comprises a detectable moiety that is capable of producing a signal. It is desirable to isolate this signal from signal obtained from the intact reagent and from fragments of the reagent other than the predetermined portion. The first reagent comprises a releasable predetermined portion that includes a detectable moiety. The predetermined portion is attached to the first reagent by a cleavable moiety. The first reagent comprises an interactive functionality adjacent the predetermined portion positioned in the first reagent such that the interactive functionality does not form part of the predetermined portion upon release of the predetermined portion from the reagent. In the method the first reagent is combined with a second reagent that potentiates the cleavage of the cleavable moiety. The combination is subjected to conditions under which the cleavable moiety is cleaved to release the predetermined portion. The interactive functionality enables the isolation of the signal produced by the detectable moiety of the released predetermined portion from signal obtained from intact first reagent and from other fragments of the reagent. The interactive functionality may act in such a manner as to alter the character or intensity of the signal produced by the detectable moiety or the interactive functionality may provide for separation of the signal-producing portion from other signal-producing components that are or may be present.

In another embodiment the present invention is directed to methods for separating a component of a mixture from other components of the mixture. A combination is formed comprising a first reagent and a second reagent. The first reagent comprises a releasable predetermined portion that includes a detectable moiety. The predetermined portion is attached to the first reagent by a cleavable moiety. The first reagent comprises an interactive functionality adjacent the predetermined portion positioned in the first reagent such that the interactive functionality does not form part of the predetermined portion upon release of the predetermined portion from the first reagent. The second reagent potentiates the cleavage of the cleavable moiety. The combination is subjected to conditions under which the cleavable moiety is cleaved to release the predetermined portion thereby forming a mixture. A third reagent that comprises a moiety that binds to the interactive functionality is included in the mixture. The third reagent or the predetermined portion is separated from the mixture.

In another embodiment the invention comprises methods, compositions and kits for simultaneously determining multiple analytes in a sample suspected of containing the analytes. A combination is provided comprising the sample and an electrophoretic tag probe comprising a releasable portion that is separately detectable on the basis of mobility. The electrophoretic tag probe comprises an interactive functionality adjacent the releasable portion where the organic moiety comprises an interactive functionality is positioned in the electrophoretic tag probe such that the interactive functionality does not form part of the releasable portion upon release thereof from the electrophoretic tag probe. The electrophoretic tag probe, or e-tag probe, is involved in a binding event that is related to the presence of the analyte in the sample. The combination is treated with reagents under conditions sufficient to release the releasable portion, forming an e-tag reporter. The combination comprises a reagent that comprises a moiety that binds to the interactive functionality. The reagent or the released e-tag reporter is separated from the mixture. The presence and/or amount of the released e-tag reporter is detected and is related to the presence and/or amount of the analyte in the sample.

Another embodiment of the invention is a kit for use in detecting the presence and/or amount of each of a plurality of target molecules. The kit comprises in packaged combination (a) first binding agent capable of binding to a first binding site on said target molecules, and (b) a plurality of second binding agents. Each of the second binding agents is capable of target-specific binding to a second binding site on a selected target. Each of the second binding agents has a unique cleavable reporter group and an interactive functionality adjacent the reporter group positioned in the second binding agent such that the interactive functionality does not form part of the reporter group upon release thereof. The cleavable reporter group in each second binding agent includes (i) a cleavable moiety that is susceptible to cleavage, and (ii) an electrophoretic tag having a detectable reporter moiety and a unique electrophoretic mobility, which allows the tag to be uniquely identified among all other tags associated with the plural binding agents. The interactive functionality is effective in isolating the signal produced by released reporter groups from the signal produced by intact second binding agents and other fragments thereof.

In one embodiment the invention is directed to methods for separating polynucleotides and polypeptides of interest from other materials that may be present in a mixture comprising the polynucleotides. The polynucleotide or polypeptide is modified to comprise one or more interactive functionalities such as 1,2- or a 1,3-di-complexation functionalities such as, for example, hydroxy, thio, amino, substituted amino, carbonyl (as in aldehyde and the like), carboxamide, hydroxamic, and the like, transition metal chelators, ferrocene, and so forth. Normally, the 1,2-di-complexation functionalities are in a cis relationship or a co-planar relationship.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A, B and C depict the SNP detection sequences for two SNP alleles (SEQ ID NO:3 and 4, respectively) (A), the optical characteristics of the fluorescent dyes (B), and the cleaved fragments from the SNP detection sequences (C).

FIG. 2 shows the structure of several benzoic acid derivatives that can serve as mobility modifiers.

FIGS. 3A-D provide a schematic illustration of the generalized methods of the invention employing a nucleotide target and a 5′ exonuclease indicating that only one e-tag reporter is generated per target for maximum multiplexing capabilities (A); the use of a capture ligand, biotin, to facilitate the removal of uncleaved or partially cleaved e-tag probe from the reaction mixture (B) and (C); and the use of nuclease resistant modifications (e.g., phosphorothioates) to the backbone of the target binding region (D).

FIG. 4 illustrates the design of e-tag reagents using standard phosphoramidite coupling chemistry.

FIG. 5 illustrates E-tags that have been separated on a LabCard. Detection: 4.7 cm; 200 V/cm.)

FIG. 6 provides predicted and experimental (*) elution times of e-tag reporters separated by capillary electrophoresis. C₃, C₆, C₉, and C₁₈ are commercially available phosphoramidite spacers from Glen Research, Sterling Va. The units are derivatives of N,N-diisopropyl, O-cyanoethyl phosphoramidite, which is indicated by “Q”. C₃ is DMT (dimethoxytrityl)oxypropyl Q; C₆ is DMToxyhexyl Q; C₉ is DMToxy(triethyleneoxy) Q; C₁₂ is DMToxydodecyl Q; C₁₈ is DMToxy(hexaethyleneoxy) Q.

FIG. 7 gives the structure of several mobility-modified nucleic acid phosphoramidites that can be employed at the penultimate coupling during e-tag probe synthesis on a standard DNA synthesizer.

FIG. 8 shows multiple electropherograms showing separation of individual e-tag reporters. The figure illustrates obtainable resolution of the reporters, which are identified by their ACLA numbers.

FIG. 9 shows charge modifier phosphoramidites. (EC or CE is cyanoethyl).

FIG. 10 shows polyhydroxylated charge modifier phosphoramidites.

FIG. 11 illustrates one exemplary synthetic approach starting with commercially available 6-carboxy fluorescein, where the phenolic hydroxyl groups are protected using an anhydride. Upon standard extractive workup, a 95% yield of product is obtained. This material is phosphitylated to generate the phosphoramidite monomer.

FIG. 12 illustrates the use of a symmetrical bis-amino alcohol linker as the amino alcohol with the second amine then coupled with a multitude of carboxylic acid derivatives.

FIG. 13 illustrates the use of an alternative strategy that uses 5-aminofluorescein as starting material and the same series of steps to convert it to its protected phosphoramidite monomer.

FIG. 14 illustrates several mobility modifiers that can be used for conversion of amino dyes into e-tag phosphoramidite monomers.

FIG. 15 gives the structure of several e-tag moieties derived from maleimide-linked precursors.

FIG. 16 is a diagram of a system for performing multiplexed determinations using e-tag reagents.

FIGS. 17A-J shows the structures of numerous exemplary e-tag reporters.

FIGS. 18A and B depict the CE separation of the reaction products of Allele 1 after 0 and 40 cycles. CE instrument: Beckman P/ACE/5000 with LIF detection. BGE: 2.5% LLD 30, 7M urea, 1×TBE. Capillary: 100 μm i.d., 375 μm o.d., Lc=27 cm, Ld=6.9 cm. Detection; λ_(ex)=488 nm, λ_(em)=520 nm. Injection: 5 s at 2.0 kV. Field strength: 100V/cm at RT. Peaks: P=unreacted SNP detection sequence or e-tag probe, P′=SNP detection sequence or e-tag reporter product, TET=tetrachlorofluorescein. (from 00 app)

FIGS. 19A and B depict the CE separation of the reaction products (or e-tag reporters) of Allele 2 after 0 and 40 cycles. Experimental conditions are the same as FIG. 18, except for BGE composition; 2% LDD30, 1×TBE, FAM=fluorescein.

FIG. 20 is a graph of the CE separation of a 1:1 mixture of the 40 cycles products of Alleles 1 and 2, with experimental conditions as described for FIG. 18.

FIG. 21 is a graph of the CE separation of a 1:10 mixture of the 40 cycles products of Alleles 1 and 2, with experimental conditions as described for FIG. 18.

FIG. 22 is an electropherogram of electrophoretic tags for electrophoresis differing by a 1000-fold concentration.

FIGS. 23A-E and G are electropherograms from analysis of 5 SNPs of the cystic fibrosis genes, using multiplexed PCR and the subject e-tag probes. Three individual SNP loci and a triplex reaction are shown, using multiplexed PCR and the subject e-tag probes (FIGS. 23A-E and G), along with an image of agarose gel separation of the triplex reaction (23F).

FIG. 24 is an electropherogram of a separation of nine negatively charged e-tag reporters.

FIGS. 25A-D are electropherograms of probes employing a penultimate thiophosphate linkage in the e-tag probes to inhibit cleavage after the first phosphate linkage. FIGS. 25A and B reflect the results of experiments showing the formation of 5 different cleavage products in the PCR amplification of ANF (anti-nuclear factor) with (A) and without (B) the thiophosphate linkage. FIGS. 25C and D reflect the results of experiments showing the formation of 5 different cleavage products in the PCR amplification of GAPDH, with (C) and without (D) the thiophosphate linkage.

FIG. 26 shows multiple electropherograms from a separation on a 310 analyzer, after an amplification reaction in the presence of probe and primer, and without the addition of avidin.

FIG. 27 shows multiple electropherograms from a separation on a 310 analyzer, after an amplification reaction in the presence of probe and primer, and with the addition of avidin.

FIGS. 28A-C are schematic illustrations of a CE² LabCard™ device (28A) and exemplary high voltage configurations utilized in this device for the injection (28B) and separation (28C) of products of an enzyme assay.

FIG. 29 shows two electropherograms demonstrating e-tag reporter analysis using a CE² LabCard. The figure shows the separation of purified labeled aminodextran with and without sensitizer beads. The addition of the sensitizer beads lead to the release of the e-tag reporter from the aminodextran using singlet oxygen produced by sensitizer upon the irradiation at 680 nm. Experimental conditions: separation buffer 20 mM HEPES pH=7.4, and 0.5% PEO; voltage configurations as described for FIG. 28; assay mixture had 29 μg/ml streptavidin coated sensitizer beads and irradiated for 1 min at 680 nm using 680±10 nm filter and a 150 W lamp.

FIG. 30 shows multiple electropherograms demonstrating e-tag reporter analysis using a CE² LabCard. The figure shows the separation of purified labeled aminodextran using different concentrations of sensitizer beads. The higher concentration of sensitizer beads leads to the higher release of e-tag reporters from the labeled aminodextran. Experimental conditions: separation buffer 20.0 mM HEPES pH=7.4, and 0.5% PEO; voltage configurations as described for FIG. 28; assay mixture was irradiated for 1 min at 680 nm using 680±10 nm filter and a 150 W lamp.

FIG. 31 depicts the linear calibration curve for the release of e-tag reporters as a function of the sensitizer bead concentration. Results were obtained using a CE² LabCard. Experimental conditions: separation buffer 20.0 mM HEPES pH=7.4, and 0.5% PEO; voltage configurations as described for FIG. 28; assay mixture was irradiated for 1 min at 680 nm using 680±10 nm filter and a 150 W lamp.

FIG. 32 shows a data curve of the effect of the concentration of labeled aminodextran on the e-tag reporter release. As demonstrated in this figure, the lower concentration of labeled aminodextran for a given concentration of sensitizer beads leads to more efficient e-tag reporter release Results were obtained using a CE² LabCard. Experimental conditions: separation buffer 20.0 mM HEPES pH=7.4, and 0.5% PEO; voltage configurations as described for FIG. 28; assay mixture had 29 μg/ml of sensitizer beads and was irradiated for 1 min at 680 nm using 680±10 nm filter and a 150 W lamp.

FIG. 33 is a schematic diagram of the steps involved in the synthesis of the phosphoramidite of biotin-deoxycytosine (dC) (Reagent C).

FIG. 34 is a schematic diagram of the steps involved in the synthesis of the phosphoramidite of biotin-deoxyadenosine (dA) (Reagent D).

FIG. 35 is a formula depicting an embodiment of a 5′-catechol-DMT-phosphoramidite in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 36 is a schematic depiction of typical results of a 5′-nuclease assay and a corresponding electropherogram without use of the present invention.

FIG. 37 is a schematic depiction of one embodiment of the present invention employing a modified residue at the penultimate position of an oligonucleotide electrophoretic probe and a corresponding electropherogram.

FIG. 38 is a schematic depiction of another embodiment of the present invention employing a modified residue at the penultimate position of an oligonucleotide electrophoretic probe and a corresponding electropherogram.

FIG. 39 is a schematic depiction of another embodiment of the present invention employing a modified residue at the penultimate position of an oligonucleotide electrophoretic probe and a corresponding electropherogram.

FIG. 40 is a schematic depiction of another embodiment of the present invention employing a modified residue at the penultimate position of an oligonucleotide electrophoretic probe and a corresponding electropherogram.

FIG. 41 is a schematic depiction of another embodiment of the present invention employing a modified residue at the penultimate position of an oligonucleotide electrophoretic probe and a corresponding electropherogram.

FIG. 42 is a schematic depiction of another embodiment of the present invention employing a modified residue at the penultimate position of an oligonucleotide electrophoretic probe and a corresponding electropherogram.

FIG. 43 is a schematic depiction of another embodiment of the present invention represented in Example 3 employing a modified residue, namely, a catechol, at the penultimate position of an oligonucleotide electrophoretic probe and a corresponding electropherogram after treatment of the reaction mixture with a boronic acid matrix.

FIG. 44 depicts electropherograms demonstrating the results of Example 3 in removing unwanted materials from materials of interest.

FIG. 45 depicts electropherograms demonstrating the results of Example 3 in removing unwanted materials from materials of interest.

FIG. 46 depicts electropherograms demonstrating the results of Example 3 in removing unwanted materials from materials of interest.

FIG. 47 depicts electropherograms demonstrating the results of Example 3 in removing unwanted materials from materials of interest.

FIG. 48 depicts electropherograms demonstrating the results of Example 3 in removing unwanted materials from materials of interest.

FIG. 49 is a formula depicting an embodiment of a 3′-CPG-catechol-DMT in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 50A is a formula depicting an embodiment of a dCTP-catechol in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 50B is a formula depicting an embodiment of a dTTP-catechol in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 50C is a formula depicting an embodiment of a dATP-catechol in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 50D is a formula depicting an embodiment of a dGTP-catechol in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 50E is a formula depicting an embodiment of a dUTP-catechol in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 51A is a formula depicting an embodiment of a dC-catechol phosphoramidite in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 51B is a formula depicting an embodiment of a dT-catechol phosphoramidite in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 51C is a formula depicting an embodiment of a dA-catechol phosphoramidite in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 51D is a formula depicting an embodiment of a dG-catechol phosphoramidite in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 51E is a formula depicting an embodiment of a dU-catechol phosphoramidite in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 51F is a formula depicting an embodiment of a dC-catechol phosphoramidite in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 51G is a formula depicting an embodiment of a dT-catechol phosphoramidite in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 51I is a formula depicting an embodiment of a dA-catechol phosphoramidite in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 51J is a formula depicting an embodiment of a dG-catechol phosphoramidite in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 51H is a formula depicting an embodiment of a dU-catechol phosphoramidite in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 52 depicts various catechol compounds that comprise functionalities for reaction with a corresponding functionality to incorporate the catechol moiety into a reaction product.

FIG. 53 depicts further various catechol compounds that comprise functionalities for reaction with a corresponding functionality to incorporate the catechol moiety into a reaction product.

FIG. 54 depicts formulas for various phenylboronic acids and their respective pKa's.

FIG. 55 depicts formulas for various boronate affinity matrices.

FIG. 56 is a reaction scheme for the preparation of a fully protected catechol-NHS compound.

FIG. 57 is a reaction scheme for the synthesis of an oligomer containing a catechol moiety.

FIG. 58 is a reaction scheme for the synthesis of the phosphoramidite of catechol-dA.

FIG. 59 is a reaction scheme for the synthesis of the phosphoramidite of catechol-dG.

FIG. 60 is a reaction scheme for the synthesis of the phosphoramidite of catechol-dC.

FIG. 61 is a reaction scheme for the synthesis of the phosphoramidite of catechol-dT.

FIG. 62 is a reaction scheme for the synthesis of the phosphoramidite of biotin-dG.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

I. Definitions

In defining the terms below, it is useful to consider the makeup of the “electrophoretic probes” that form part of the invention and/or are used in practicing the method of the invention. An electrophoretic probe has four basic components or moieties: (i) a detection group or moiety, (ii) a mobility modifier, (iii) a target-binding moiety, and (iv) a linking group that links the mobility modifier and detection group to the target-bonding moiety. In addition, in one embodiment the electrophoretic probe also comprises an interactive functionality adjacent the cleavable linkage positioned in the electrophoretic probe such that the interactive functionality does not form part of the released detection group and mobility modifier upon release thereof from the electrophoretic probe. These terms will first be examined in the context of the functioning of the electrophoretic probes in the invention, then more fully defined by their structural features.

The function of an electrophoretic probe in the invention is first to interact with a target, such as a single-stranded nucleic acid, a ligand-binding agent, such as an antibody or receptor, or an enzyme, e.g., as an enzyme substrate. The “portion”, “region” or “moiety” of the probe that binds to the target is the “target-binding moiety” or “target-binding region” or “target-binding portion” (“T”). After the target-binding moiety of an electrophoretic probe binds to a target, and typically as a result of such binding, the linking group of the electrophoretic probe may be cleaved to release an “electrophoretic tag reporter” or “e-tag reporter” which has a unique charge-to-mass ratio and thus a unique electrophoretic mobility in a defined electrophoretic system. The e-tag reporter is composed of the detection group, mobility modifier, and any residue of the linking group that remains associated with the released e-tag reporter after cleavage. Therefore, the second function of the electrophoretic probe is to release an e-tag reporter, which can be identified according to its unique and known electrophoretic mobility.

According to an important feature of the invention, there is provided a set of electrophoretic probes, each of which has a unique target-binding moiety and an associated “e-tag moiety” that imparts to the associated e-tag reporter, a unique electrophoretic mobility by virtue of a unique charge to mass ratio. In general, the unique charge to mass ratio of an e-tag moiety is due to the chemical structure of the mobility modifier, since the detection group and linking-group residue (if any) will be common to any set of electrophoretic probes. However, it is recognized that the detection group can make unique charge and/or mass contributions to the e-tag reporters as well. For example, a set of electrophoretic probes may be made up of a first subset having a group of mobility modifiers which impart unique electrophoretic mobilities to the subset in combination with a detection group having one defined charge and/or mass, and a second subset having the same group of mobility modifiers in combination with a second detection group with a different charge and/or mass, thus to impart electrophoretic mobilities which are unique among both subsets.

The different target-binding moieties in a set of electrophoretic probes are typically designated “T_(j)”, where the set of probes contains n members, and each T_(j), j=1 to j=n is different, i.e., will bind specifically and/or with unique affinities to different targets. A set of electrophoretic probes of the invention typically includes at least about 5 members, i.e., n is preferably 5 or more, typically 10-100 or more.

A “reporter moiety” “R” or a “detection group” “D” are equivalent terms referring to a chemical group or moiety that is capable of being detected by a suitable detection system, particular in the context of detecting molecules containing the detection group after or during electrophoretic separation. One preferred detection group is a fluorescent group that can be readily detected during or after electrophoretic separation of molecules by illuminating the molecules with a light source in the excitation wavelength and detecting fluorescence emission from the irradiated molecules. Exemplary fluorescent moieties will be given below. As noted above, the detection group is typically common among a set or subset of different electrophoretic probes, but may also differ among probe subsets, contributing to the unique electrophoretic mobilities of the released e-tag reporter.

The “mobility modifier” “M” is a generally a chemical group or moiety that is designed to have a particular charge to mass ratio, and thus a particular electrophoretic mobility in a defined electrophoretic system. Exemplary types of mobility modifiers are discussed below. In a set of n electrophoretic probes, each unique mobility modifier is designated M_(j), where j=1 to n, as above. The mobility modifier may be considered to include a mass-modifying region and/or a charge-modifying region or a single region that acts as both a mass- and charge-modifying region. The mobility modifying region may also be referred to as M*, C*, L, a bond, a linking group, a mobility/mass identifying region or “mobility modifier”, a charge-imparting moiety and a mobility region.

The detection group and mobility modifier in the electrophoretic probe form an “e-tag moiety” which is linked to the target-binding moiety by a “linking group” which may be only a covalent bond which is cleavable under selected cleaving conditions, or a chemical moiety or chain, such as a nucleotide and associated phosphodiester bond, an oligonucleotide with an internal cleavable bond, an oligopeptide, or an enzyme substrate, that contains a cleavable chemical bond. Cleavage typically occurs as the result of binding of the probe to the target, which is followed by enzyme or catalyzed cleavage of the linking-group bond.

The linking group may or may not contribute a linking-group “residue” to the released e-tag reporter, also dependent on the nature of the linking group and the site of cleavage. For example, where the linking group is a covalent bond, or cleavage of the linking group occurs immediately adjacent the “e-tag moiety”, the linking group will leave no residue, i.e., will not contribute additional mass and charge to the released e-tag reporter. Similarly, where the linking group is a chemical group or chain that is cleaved internally or immediately adjacent the target-binding moiety, cleavage of the linking group will leave a residual mass and, possible charge contribution to the released e-tag reporter. In general, this contribution will be relatively small, and the same for each different e-tag reporter (assuming a common linking group within the probe set). As such, the residue will not effect the relative electrophoretic mobilities of the released e-tag reporters, nor the ability to resolve the e-tag reporters into electrophoretic species that can be uniquely identified.

Adjacent the cleavable linkage is at least one organic moiety comprising an interactive functionality positioned in the electrophoretic probe such that the interactive functionality does not form part of the released detection group and mobility modifier upon release thereof from the electrophoretic probe. The interactive functionality is a modification in the electrophoretic probe that enables signal from the detection group to be isolated from signal produced by other components of the aforementioned system. The signal may be isolated by some interaction between the interactive functionality and the detection group such as, for example, quenching of the signal from the detection group, or by enabling separation of the released detection group and mobility modifier from the electrophoretic probe and other materials. In the latter situation, typically, an additional reagent is included that binds to the interactive functionality and enables separation of the various components carrying the detection group.

To enhance the multiplexing capabilities of e-tag technology, it is important that only one detectable product be generated per target. Even small amounts of additional signal generating products generated during the assay reduce multiplexing abilities. For example, during 5′-nuclease-based assays (such as TaqMan), one major product is generated by cleavage by polymerase at the predicted terminal phosphate linkage. However, small amounts of additional cleavage products are generated via cleavage by the enzyme at phosphate sites further removed from the major cleavage site. Additionally, a vast majority of the probe containing the e-tag moiety is left intact. It is desirable for this unreacted material to be removed as well. FIG. 36 depicts typical products generated by a 5′-nuclease assay and the resulting electropherogram generated. This situation allows for only low level of multiplexing.

The methodology described herein permits removal of signal from all unwanted cleavage products, as well as any uncleaved probe. The invention may be understood with reference to introduction of a uniquely functionalized nucleic acid residue at the 5′ penultimate position of a probe sequence. This is by way of illustration and not limitation since the invention has application to electrophoretic probes other than polynucleotide electrophoretic probes. Referring to FIG. 37 of the exemplary embodiment, the unique functionality may be positioned at the penultimate nucleotide, which results in the presence of the modified residue in all species except the desired cleavage product and will be employed for removal of the unwanted species. Thus, each of the four natural nucleotides should be capable of bonding to this modification without impacting base-pairing, and the modified nucleotides should be convertible into a phosphoramidite species for incorporation into the probe sequence during probe construction. The modification can be bound to any of the base, sugar, or phosphorous components of the deoxynucleotide residues. A variety of modifications may be employed, some of which are described below. FIG. 37 depicts probes containing uniquely modified residues at the penultimate position, which allow for removal of unwanted cleavage products as well as uncleaved probe by treatment with simple reagents.

The following definitions are to be understood in the context of the above function of the various components of electrophoretic probes and e-tag reporters.

An “electrophoretic probe” refers to one of a set of probes of the type described above having unique target-binding moieties and associated e-tag moieties. The probes are represented by the following formula: (D, M_(j))-L(-Z)_(v)-T_(j), where D is a detection moiety, M_(j) is the jth mobility modifier, Z is an organic moiety comprising interactive functionalities where Z is adjacent the cleavable linkage (when the linking group is the 5′-terminal nucleotide of an oligonucleotide target binding moiety, Z is on the penultimate nucleotide), v is 1 to about 10, or about 2 to about 8, or about 3 to about 6, Tj is the jth target binding agent, and the linking group is represented by L. In this structural designation, (D, M_(j))- indicates that either the detection group or the mobility modifier is joined to the linking group, i.e., either (D, M_(j)) or (M_(j),D)-.

A “set” or “group”, “plurality” or “library” of electrophoretic probes refers to a plurality of electrophoretic probes having typically at least five, typically 10-100 or more probes with different unique target-binding moieties and associated e-tag moieties.

As used herein, the term “electrophoretic tag probe set” or “e-tag probe set” refers to a set of probes for use in detecting each or any of a plurality of known, selected target nucleotide sequences, or for detecting the binding of, or interaction between, each or any of a plurality of ligands and one or more target antiligands.

The term “target-binding moiety” or “T_(j)” refers to the component of an e-tag probe that participates in recognition and specific binding to a designated target. The target-binding moiety may also be referred to as T or T′, or may be defined based on the type of target, e.g., as a SNP detection sequence or an oligonucleotide detection sequence.

In one general embodiment of the target-binding moiety for use in detection of nucleic acid targets, T_(j) is an oligonucleotide target-binding moiety. In such cases, T_(j) has a sequence of nucleotides U_(i) connected by intersubunit linkages: U₁=U₂=U₃=U₄=U₅=U₆=U_(i) where = corresponds to intersubunit linkages B_(i, i+1), where i includes all integers from 1 to n, and n is sufficient to allow the moiety to hybridize specifically with a target nucleotide sequence. Where the target-binding moiety is an oligonucleotide, and enzyme cleavage to release the e-tag reporter occurs between the first and second 5′ nucleotides (between U₁ and U₂ above), the linking group and nucleotides forming the target-binding sequence can be expressed in either of two equivalent representations.

In one exemplary representation, U₁ is considered the 5′ nucleotide of the target-binding moiety (as in the representation above), and cleavage occurs within this moiety, that is, at a nuclease-susceptible bond between the first and the second nucleotides of the target moiety (between U₁ and U₂, above). In this representation, the bond between the first and second nucleotides (B_(1, 2) in the above nomenclature) is the site of cleavage and all downstream bonds are represented by B_(i, i+1), where “i” is 2 or greater. Typically the penultimate bond is nuclease-resistant, however the target binding moiety may include more than one nuclease-resistant linkage adjacent to the nuclease-susceptible linkage, such that the probe will yield a single released e-tag reporter species upon cleavage. In this representation, a capture ligand (“C”), may be bound to the penultimate nucleotide (U₂).

In another exemplary representation, the 5′ nucleotide is designated “N”, and the nuclease-susceptible bond that links it to the 5′ nucleotide (U₁) of the target-binding moiety is considered as the linking group. In other words, in this representation, N and all downstream nucleotides are considered as the target-binding moiety. The same oligonucleotide above would now be expressed as N=U₁=U₂U₃=U₄=U₅=U₆=U_(i), where N is the 5′ nucleotide and participates in target recognition. In this representation, a capture ligand (“C”), may be bound to the ultimate nucleotide (U₁).

In one application of this embodiment, the e-tag probe is referred to as a SNP detection sequence, a fluorescence SNP detection sequence or an oligonucleotide detection sequence.

In another generalized embodiment for use in detection of non-nucleic acid targets, the target-binding moiety, T_(j) is or includes a ligand capable of binding to or interacting with a target antiligand and L is a linking group connected to T_(j) by a bond that is cleavable by a selected cleaving agent when the probe is bound to or interacting with the target antiligand. L may also be referred to as a L″, a terminal linking region, a terminal linking group.

“Electrophoretic tag” refers to a composition or reagent for unique identification of an entity of interest during separation. An e-tag moiety has the fundamental structure given as (D, M_(j))-L, where D and M_(j) are the detection group and jth mobility modifier, as defined above, and L is the linking group, and in particular, the bond or residue of the linking group remaining after cleavage. Here the e-tag moiety (D, M_(j)) is intended to include both of the structures D-M_(j)-L and M_(j)-D-L.

E-tag probes of the invention find utility in performing multiplexed for detection/analysis of targets including, but not limited to nucleic acid detection, such as sequence recognition, SNP detection, transcription analysis or mRNA determination, allelic determination, mutation determination, hla typing or mhc determination and haplotype determination, in addition to detection of other ligands, such as proteins, polysaccharides, etc.

As used herein, the term “e-tag reporter” refers to the cleavage product generated as a result of the interaction between an e-tag probe and its target. In one representation, an e-tag reporter comprises the e-tag moiety plus a residual portion of the target binding moiety (T_(j)) (where, for example, in a nucleotide example, one or more nucleotides in the target-binding moiety contain the cleavable linking group), or a residual portion of the linking group (when the latter is considered separate from the target-binding moiety). In another embodiment, the e-tag reporter does not retain any of the target-binding moiety. E-tag reporters can be differentiated by electrophoretic mobility or mass and are amenable to electrophoretic separation and detection, although other methods of differentiating the tags may also find use.

An e-tag reporter resulting from the interaction of an e-tag probe used to detect the binding of or interaction between a ligand and an antiligand typically has the form (D, M_(j))-L′. D and M_(j) are defined above and L′ is the residue of L that remains attached to (D, M_(j)) after an e-tag reporter is cleaved from the corresponding e-tag probe.

As used herein, the term “binding event” generally refers to the binding of the target binding moiety of an e-tag probe to its target. By way of example, such binding may involve the interaction between complementary nucleotide sequences or the binding between a ligand and target antiligand.

As used herein, the term “organic moiety comprising an interactive functionality” generally refers to at least one moiety positioned in the electrophoretic probe such that the interactive functionality does not form part of the released detection group and mobility modifier upon release thereof from the electrophoretic probe. The organic moiety comprising an interactive functionality is a modification in the electrophoretic probe that enables signal from the detection group to be isolated from signal produced by other components of the aforementioned system. The interactive functionality may be a “capture ligand”, referring to a group that is typically included within the target binding moiety or portion of an e-tag probe and is capable of binding specifically to a “capture agent” or receptor. The interaction between such a capture ligand and the corresponding capture agent may be used to separate uncleaved e-tag probes from released e-tag reporters.

II. Compositions of the Invention

The subject invention provides compositions and methods for improved analysis of complex mixtures, where one is interested in the simultaneous identification of a plurality of entities, such as nucleic acid or amino acid sequences, SNPs, alleles, mutations, proteins, haptens, protein family members, expression products, etc., analysis of the response of a plurality of entities to an agent that can affect the mobility of the entities, and the like. Libraries of differentiable compounds are provided, where the compounds comprise a mobility-identifying region (including mass-identifying region) (“mobility modifier”), that provides for ready identification by electrophoresis or mass spectrometry (differentiation by mobility in an electrical field or magnetic field), by itself or in conjunction with a detectable label. Depending on the determination the product may also include one or more nucleotides or their equivalent, one or more amino acids or their equivalent, a functionality resulting from the release of the target-binding moiety or a modified functionality as a result of the action of an agent on the target-binding moiety. The mobility-identifying region or mobility modifier may be designated as a mobility modifier given that it provides for ready identification by electrophoresis, by itself or in conjunction with a detectable label.

The methodology involves employing detectable tags that can be differentiated by electrophoretic mobility or mass. The tags comprise mobility-identifying regions joined to a moiety that will undergo a change to produce a product. Depending on the nature of the change, the change may involve a change in mass and/or charge of the mobility modifier, the release of the mobility modifier from all or a portion of the target-binding moiety or may provide for the ability to sequester the mobility modifier from the starting material for preferential release of the mobility modifier. The differentiable reporters, whether identified by electrophoresis or mass spectrometry, comprising the mobility modifier, with or without the detectable label and a portion of the target-binding moiety will be referred to as “e-tag reporters.”

Such differentiable e-tag reporters, comprising the e-tag moiety with or without a portion of the target-binding moiety for use in detection may be conveniently referred to as “e-tag reporters”. The e-tag reporters are generated as the result of the interaction between an e-tag probe (which comprises an e-tag moiety joined to a target-binding moiety) and a corresponding target.

In addition, the subject invention employs a variety of reagent systems, where a binding event results in a change in mobility of the e-tag probe. The binding event is between a target-binding moiety and a target, and the reagent system recognizes this event and changes the nature of the e-tag-containing target-binding moiety, so that the mobility and/or mass of the product is different from the starting material. The reagent system will frequently involve an enzyme and the reagent system may comprise the target. The effect of the reagent system is to make or break a bond by physical, chemical or enzymatic means. Each of the products of the different e-tag-containing target-binding moieties can be accurately detected, so as to determine the occurrence of the binding event. Following the binding event, one or more reaction products are produced that exhibit mobilities different from the e-tag probe or probes from which the reaction products derive. The released form of the e-tag reporter exhibits a different mobility and/or mass than the e-tag probe from which it derives.

The subject invention may be used for a variety of multiplexed analyses involving the action of one or more agents on a plurality of reagents comprising the mobility modifier and a target-binding moiety that undergoes a change as a result of a chemical reaction, resulting in a change in mobility of the product as compared to the starting material. The reaction may be the result of addition or deletion in relation to the target-binding moiety, so that the resulting product may be sequestered from the starting material. The subject systems find use in nucleic acid and protein analyses, reactions, particularly enzyme reactions, where one or more enzymes are acting on a group of different potential or actual substrates, and the like.

A system is provided for the simultaneous multiplexed determination of a plurality of events employing electrophoresis to distinguish the events, comprising an electrophoretic device for electrophoretic separation and detection, a container containing a first set of first agents, referred to as “e-tag probes,” comprising differing mobility regions and a second reagent composition comprising at least one active second agent, under conditions where said second agent modifies at least one member of said first agent set resulting in a change of electrophoretic mobility of said at least one member to provide a modified member retaining said mobility region, and transfer of said at least one modified member to said electrophoretic device for separation and detection of said at least one modified member. The electrophoretic device may be connected to a data processor for receiving and processing data from the device, as well as operating the electrophoretic device.

The first set of first agents are considered to be “e-tag probes,” and the modified members that retain the mobility region or mobility modifying region and are subjected to analysis are referred to as “e-tag reporters”. In general, the e-tag probes comprise a mobility-modifying region that is joined to a target binding moiety by a linker, which may include or be a reactive functionality, a cleavable linkage, a bond which may or may not be releasable or a group for joining to one or more of the other regions.

The eTag reporters will vary depending upon the method of detection. Groups of at least 10 eTag reporters bound to 10 different binding compounds will be used in the determinations. The eTag reporters will be characterized by being cleavable from the binding compound in the same vessel by the same cleavage mechanism, having a shared characteristic that permits separation and individual detection, being compatible with the determination method and being in the molecular weight range of about 30-3000 dal, usually in the molecular weight range of about 35 to 1500 dal. The variation may be mass using a mass spectrometer, where a magnetic field is used for separation, mass/charge ratio using electrokinesis, where an electric field is used for separation, which may also include sieving and/or adsorbing polymers, adsorption, using chromatography, e.g. gas chromatography, high pressure liquid chromatography, where polar and van der Waal interactions are used for separation, etc.

The systems are based on having libraries available comprising a plurality of e-tag probes that comprise at least a plurality of different mobility-identifying regions, so as to be separable by electrophoresis with the entities to which the mobility-identifying regions are attached. The mobility-identifying regions are retained in the product of the reaction, where the product is modified by the gain and/or loss of a group that changes the mass and may also change the charge of the product, as compared to the starting material. In some instances, the mobility-identifying region may be joined to a target-binding moiety by a cleavable bond, so that the mobility-identifying region is released for analysis subsequent to the modification of the target-binding moiety, e.g. complex formation.

In one aspect, the subject assays are predicated on having a reagent that has a high affinity for a reciprocal binding member, the analyte. Usually, the binding affinity will be at least about 10⁻⁷M⁻¹, more usually, at least about 10⁻⁸M⁻¹. For the most part, the reagents will be receptors, which includes antibodies, IgA, IgD, IgG, IgE and IgM and subtypes thereof, enzymes, lectins, nucleic acids, nucleic acid binding proteins, or any other molecule that provides the desired specificity for the analyte in the assay. The antibodies may be polyclonal or monoclonal or mixtures of monoclonal antibodies depending on the nature of the target composition and the targets. The targets or analytes may be any molecule, such as small organic molecules of from about 100 to 2500 Da, poly(amino acids) including peptides of from about 3 to 100 amino acids and proteins of from about 100 to 50,000 or more amino acids, saccharides, lipids, nucleic acids, etc., where the analytes may be part of a larger assemblage, such as a cell, microsome, organelle, virus, protein complex, chromosome or fragment thereof, nucleosome, etc.

A. Electrophoretic Tags

An e-tag moiety will be a molecular group that is labeled with a directly detectable label or can be made so by functionalization. The electrophoretic tags will be differentiated by their electrophoretic mobility, usually their mass/charge ratio, to provide different mobilities for each electrophoretic tag. Although in some instances the electrophoretic tags may have identical mass/charge ratios, such as oligonucleotides but differ in size or shape and therefore exhibit different electrophoretic mobilities under appropriate conditions. Therefore, the tags will be amenable to electrophoretic separation and detection, although other methods of differentiating the tags may also find use. The e-tag moiety may be joined to any convenient site on the target binding reagent, without interfering with the synthesis, release and binding of the e-tag-labeled reagent. For nucleotides, the e-tag moiety may be bound to a site on the base, either an annular carbon atom or a hydroxyl or amino substituent. For proteins, the e-tag moiety may be bound to multiple sites either on the protein or through the intermediacy of a hub nucleus.

In mass spectrometry, the e-tag moieties may be different from those used in electrophoresis, since the tags do not require a label, or a charge. Thus, these e-tag moieties may be differentiated solely by mass, which can be a result of atoms of different elements, isotopes of such elements, and numbers of such atoms.

Electrophoretic tags are small molecules (molecular weight of 150 to 10,000), usually other than oligonucleotides, which can be used in any measurement technique that permits identification by mass, e.g. mass spectrometry, and or mass/charge ratio, as in mobility in electrophoresis. Simple variations in mass and/or mobility of the electrophoretic tag leads to generation of a library of electrophoretic tags, that can then be used to detect multiple target molecules such as SNPs or multiple target sequences or multiple proteins. The electrophoretic tags are easily and rapidly separated in free solution without the need for a polymeric separation media. Quantitation is achieved using internal controls. Enhanced separation of the electrophoretic tags in electrophoresis is achieved by modifying the tags with positively charged moieties.

The e-tag moieties are a group of reagents have a mobility modifier that with the other regions to which the mobility modifier is attached during separation provide for unique identification of an entity of interest. The mobility modifier of the e-tag moieties can vary from a bond to about 100 atoms in a chain, usually not more than about 60 atoms, more usually not more than about 30 atoms, where the atoms are carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorous, boron and sulfur. Generally, when other than a bond, the mobility modifier will have from 0 to 40, more usually from 0 to 30 heteroatoms, which in addition to the heteroatoms indicated above will include halogen or other heteroatom. The total number of atoms other than hydrogen will generally be fewer than 200 atoms, usually fewer than 100 atoms. Where acid groups are present, depending upon the pH of the medium in which the mobility modifier is present, various cations may be associated with the acid group. The acids may be organic or inorganic, including carboxyl, thionocarboxyl, thiocarboxyl, hydroxamic, phosphate, phosphite, phosphonate, sulfonate, sulfinate, boronic, nitric, nitrous, etc. For positive charges, substituents will include amino (includes ammonium), phosphonium, sulfonium, oxonium, etc., where substituents will generally be aliphatic of from about 1-6 carbon atoms, the total number of carbon atoms per heteroatom, usually be less than about 12, usually less than about 9. The mobility modifier may be neutral or charged depending on the other regions to which the mobility modifier is attached, at least one of the regions having at least one charge. Neutral mobility modifiers will generally be polymethylene, halo- or polyhaloalkylene or aralkylene (a combination of aromatic—includes heterocyclic—and aliphatic groups), where halogen will generally be fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine, polyethers, particularly, polyoxyalkylene, wherein alkyl is of from 2-3 carbon atoms, polyesters, e.g. polyglycolide and polylactide, dendrimers, comprising ethers or thioethers, oligomers of addition and condensation monomers, e.g. acrylates, diacids and diols, etc. The side chains include amines, ammonium salts, hydroxyl groups, including phenolic groups, carboxyl groups, esters, amides, phosphates, heterocycles, particularly nitrogen heterocycles, such as the nucleoside bases and the amino acid side chains, such as imidazole and quinoline, thioethers, thiols, or other groups of interest to change the mobility of the e-tag reporter. The mobility modifier may be a homooligomer or a heterooligomer, having different monomers of the same or different chemical characteristics, e.g., nucleotides and amino acids. Desirably neutral mass differentiating groups will be combined with short charged sequences to provide the mobility modifier.

The charged mobility modifiers will generally have only negative or positive charges, although, one may have a combination of charges, particularly where a region to which the mobility modifier is attached is charged and the mobility modifier has the opposite charge. The mobility modifiers may have a single monomer that provides the different functionalities for oligomerization and carry a charge or two monomers may be employed, generally two monomers. One may use substituted diols, where the substituents are charged and dibasic acids. Illustrative of such oligomers is the combination of diols or diamino, such as 2,3-dihydroxypropionic acid, 2,3-dihydroxysuccinic acid, 2,3-diaminosuccinic acid, 2,4-dihydroxyglutaric acid, etc. The diols or diamino compounds can be linked by dibasic acids, which dibasic acids include the inorganic dibasic acids indicated above, as well as dibasic acids, such as oxalic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, carbonic acid, etc. Instead of using esters, one may use amides, where amino acids or diamines and diacids may be employed. Alternatively, one may link the hydroxyls or amines with alkylene or arylene groups.

By employing monomers that have substituents that provide for charges or which may be modified to provide charges, mobility modifiers may be obtained having the desired mass/charge ratio. For example, by using serine or threonine, the hydroxyl groups may be modified with phosphate to provide negatively charged mobility modifiers. With arginine, lysine and histidine, positively charged mobility modifiers may be obtained. Oligomerization may be performed in conventional ways to provide the appropriately sized mobility modifier. The different mobility modifiers having different orders of oligomers, generally having from 1 to 20 monomeric units, more usually about 1 to 12, where a unit intends a repetitive unit that may have from 1 to 2 different monomers. For the most part, oligomers are used with other than nucleic acid target-binding moieties. The polyfunctionality of the monomeric units provides for functionalities at the termini that may be used for conjugation to other moieties, so that an available functionality for reaction may be used to provide a different functionality. For example, a carboxyl group may be reacted with an aminoethylthiol, to replace the carboxyl group with a thiol functionality for reaction with an activated olefin.

By using monomers that have 1-3 charges, one may employ a low number of monomers and provide for mobility variation with changes in molecular weight. Of particular interest are polyolpolycarboxylic acids having from about two to four of each functionality, such as tartaric acid, 2,3-dihydroxyterephthalic acid, 3,4-dihydroxyphthalic acid, Δ⁵-tetrahydro-3,4-dihydroxyphthalic acid, etc. To provide for an additional negative charge, these monomers may be oligomerized with a dibasic acid, such as a phosphoric acid derivative to form the phosphate diester. Alternatively, the carboxylic acids could be used with a diamine to form a polyamide, while the hydroxyl groups could be used to form esters, such as phosphate esters, or ethers such as the ether of glycolic acid, etc. To vary the mobility, various aliphatic groups of differing molecular weight may be employed, such as polymethylenes, polyoxyalkylenes, polyhaloaliphatic or -aromatic groups, polyols, e.g. sugars, where the mobility will differ by at least about 0.01, more usually at least about 0.02 and more usually at least about 0.5. Alternatively, the libraries may include oligopeptides for providing the charge, particularly oligopeptides of from 2-6, usually 2-4 monomers, either positive charges resulting from lysine, arginine and histidine or negative charges, resulting from aspartic and glutamic acid. Of course, naturally occurring amino acids need not be used, unnatural or synthetic amino acids, such as taurine, phosphate substituted serine or threonine, S-α-succinylcysteine, co-oligomers of diamines and amino acids, etc., may be employed.

Where the e-tag reagents are used for mass detection, as with mass spectrometry, the e-tag reporters need not be charged but merely differ in mass, since a charge will be imparted to the e-tag reporter by the mass spectrometer. Thus, one could use the same or similar monomers, where the functionalities would be neutral or made neutral, such as esters and amides of carboxylic acids. Also, one may vary the e-tag moieties by isotopic substitution, such as ²H, ¹⁸O, ¹⁴C, etc.

The e-tag moiety may be linked by a stable bond or one that may be cleavable thermally, photolytically or chemically. There is an interest in cleaving the e-tag moiety from the target-binding moiety in situations where cleavage of the target-binding moiety results in significant cleavage at other than the desired site of cleavage, resulting in satellite cleavage products, such as di- and higher oligonucleotides and this family of products interferes with the separation and detection of the e-tag reporters. However, rather than requiring an additional step in the identification of the tags by releasing them from the base to which they are attached, one can modify the target binding sequence to minimize obtaining cleavage at other than the desired bond, for example, the ultimate or penultimate phosphate link in a nucleic acid sequence. For immunoassays involving specific binding members, bonding of the e-tag moiety will usually be through a cleavable bond to a convenient functionality, such as carboxy, hydroxy, amino or thiol, particularly as associated with proteins, lipids and saccharides.

If present, the nature of the releasable or cleavable link may be varied widely. Numerous linkages are available, which are thermally, photolytically or chemically labile. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,721,099. Where detachment of the product from all or a portion of the target-binding moiety is desired, there are numerous functionalities and reactants, which may be used. Conveniently, ethers may be used, where substituted benzyl ether or derivatives thereof, e.g. benzhydryl ether, indanyl ether, etc. may be cleaved by acidic or mild reductive conditions. Alternatively, one may employ beta-elimination, where a mild base may serve to release the product. Acetals, including the thio analogs thereof, may be employed, where mild acid, particularly in the presence of a capturing carbonyl compound, may serve. By combining formaldehyde, HCl and an alcohol moiety, an x-chloroether is formed. This may then be coupled with an hydroxy functionality to form the acetal. Various photolabile linkages may be employed, such as o-nitrobenzyl, 7-nitroindanyl, 2-nitrobenzhydryl ethers or esters, etc.

For a list of cleavable linkages, see, for example, Greene and Wuts, Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, 2^(nd) ed. Wiley, 1991. The versatility of the various systems that have been developed allows for broad variation in the conditions for attachment of the e-tag entities.

Various functionalities for cleavage are illustrated by: silyl groups being cleaved with fluoride, oxidation, acid, bromine or chlorine; o-nitrobenzyl with light; catechols with cerium salts; olefins with ozone, permanganate or osmium tetroxide; sulfides with singlet oxygen or enzyme catalyzed oxidative cleavage with hydrogen peroxide, where the resulting sulfone can undergo elimination; furans with oxygen or bromine in methanol; tertiary alcohols with acid; ketals and acetals with acid; α- and β-substituted ethers and esters with base, where the substituent is an electron withdrawing group, e.g., sulfone, sulfoxide, ketone, etc., and the like.

In one embodiment, the electrophoretic tags will have a linker, which provides the linkage between the base and the detectable label molecule, usually a fluorescer, or a functionality that may be used for linking to a detectable label molecule. By having different functionalities, which may be individually bonded to a detectable label molecule, one enhances the opportunity for diversity of the electrophoretic tags. Using different fluorescers for joining to the different functionalities, the different fluorescers can provide differences in light emission and mass/charge ratios for the electrophoretic tags.

For the most part, the linker may be a bond, where the label is directly bonded to the nucleoside, or a link of from 1 to 500 or more, usually 1 to 300 atoms, more usually 2 to 100 atoms in the chain. The total number of atoms in the chain will depend to a substantial degree on the diversity required to recognize all the SNPs to be determined. The chain of the linker for the most part will be comprised of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorous, boron, and sulfur. Various substituents may be present on the linker, which may be naturally present as part of the naturally occurring monomer or introduced by synthesis. Functionalities which may be present in the chain include amides, phosphate esters, ethers, esters, thioethers, disulfides, borate esters, sulfate esters, etc. The side chains include amines, ammonium salts, hydroxyl groups, including phenolic groups, carboxyl groups, esters, amides, phosphates, heterocycles, particularly nitrogen heterocycles, such as the nucleoside bases and the amino acid side chains, such as imidazole and quinoline, thioethers, thiols, or other groups of interest to change the mobility of the electrophoretic tag. The linker may be a homooligomer or a heterooligomer, having different monomers of the same or different chemical characteristics, e.g., nucleotides and amino acids.

The linker or mobility modifier may be joined in any convenient manner to a unit of the target-binding moiety, such as the base of the nucleoside or the amino acid of a protein. Various functionalities that may be used include alkylamine, amidine, thioamide, ether, urea, thiourea, guanidine, azo, thioether and carboxylate, sulfonate, and phosphate esters, amides and thioesters.

The linkers may be oligomers, where the monomers may differ as to mass and charge. For convenience and economy, monomers will generally be commercially available, but if desired, they may be originally synthesized. Monomers which are commercially available and readily lend themselves to oligomerization include amino acids, both natural and synthetic, nucleotides, both natural and synthetic, and monosaccharides, both natural and synthetic, while other monomers include hydroxyacids, where the acids may be organic or inorganic, e.g. carboxylic, phosphoric, boric, sulfonic, etc., and amino acids, where the acid is inorganic, and the like. In some instances, nucleotides, natural or synthetic, may find use. The monomers may be neutral, negatively charged or positively charged. Normally, the charges of the monomers in the linkers will be the same, so that in referring to the mass/charge ratio, it will be related to the same charge. Where the label has a different charge from the linker or mobility modifier, this will be treated as if the number of charges is reduced by the number of charges on the linker or mobility modifier. For natural amino acids, the positive charges may be obtained from lysine, arginine and histidine, while the negative charges may be obtained from aspartic and glutamic acid. For nucleotides, the charges will be obtained from the phosphate and any substituents that may be present or introduced onto the base. For sugars sialic acid, uronic acids of the various sugars, or substituted sugars may be employed.

The linker L may include charged groups, uncharged polar groups or be non-polar. The groups may be alkylene and substituted alkylenes, oxyalkylene and polyoxyalkylene, particularly alkylene of from 2 to 3 carbon atoms, arylenes and substituted arylenes, polyamides, polyethers, polyalkylene amines, etc. Substituents may include heteroatoms, such as halo, phosphorous, nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, etc., where the substituent may be halo, nitro, cyano, non-oxo-carbonyl, e.g. ester, acid and amide, oxo-carbonyl, e.g. aldehyde and keto, amidine, urea, urethane, guanidine, carbamyl, amino and substituted amino, particularly alkyl substituted amino, azo, oxy, e.g. hydroxyl and ether, etc., where the substituents will generally be of from about 0 to 10 carbon atoms, while L will generally be of from about 1 to 100 carbon atoms, more usually of from about 1 to 60 carbon atoms and preferably about 1 to 36 carbon atoms. L will be joined to the label and the target-binding moiety by any convenient functionality, such as carboxy, amino, oxy, phospho, thio, iminoether, etc., where in many cases the label and the target-binding moiety will have a convenient functionality for linkage.

The number of heteroatoms in L is sufficient to impart the desired charge to the label conjugate, usually from about 1 to about 200, more usually from about 2 to 100, heteroatoms. The heteroatoms in L may be substituted with atoms other than hydrogen.

The charge-imparting moieties of L may be, for example, amino acids, tetraalkylammonium, phosphonium, phosphate diesters, carboxylic acids, thioacids, sulfonic acids, sulfate groups, phosphate monoesters, and the like and combinations of one or more of the above. The number of the above components of L is such as to achieve the desired number of different charge-imparting moieties. The amino acids may be, for example, lysine, aspartic acid, alanine, gamma-aminobutyric acid, glycine, β-alanine, cysteine, glutamic acid, homocysteine, β-alanine and the like. The phosphate diesters include, for example, dimethyl phosphate diester, ethylene glycol linked phosphate diester, and so forth. The thioacids include, by way of example, thioacetic acid, thiopropionic acid, thiobutyric acid and so forth. The carboxylic acids preferably have from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, more preferably, from 2 to 15 carbon atoms and preferably comprise one or more heteroatoms and may be, for example, acetic acid derivatives, formic acid derivatives, succinic acid derivatives, citric acid derivatives, phytic acid derivatives and the like.

Of particular interest for L is to have two sub-regions, a common charged sub-region, which will be common to a group of e-tag moieties, and a varying uncharged, a non-polar or polar sub-region, that will vary the mass/charge ratio. This permits ease of synthesis, provides for relatively common chemical and physical properties and permits ease of handling. For negative charges, one may use dibasic acids that are substituted with functionalities that permit low orders of oligomerization, such as hydroxy and amino, where amino will usually be present as neutral amide. These charge-imparting groups provide aqueous solubility and allow for various levels of hydrophobicity in the other sub-region. Thus the uncharged sub-region could employ substituted dihydroxybenzenes, diaminobenzenes, or aminophenols, with one or greater number of aromatic rings, fused or non-fused, where substituents may be halo, nitro, cyano, alkyl, etc., allowing for great variation in molecular weight by using a common building block. Where the other regions of the e-tag moiety impart charge, L may be neutral.

In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the charge-imparting moiety is conveniently composed primarily of amino acids but also may include thioacids and other carboxylic acids having from one to five carbon atoms. The charge-imparting moiety may have from 1 to 30, preferably 1 to 20, more preferably, 1 to 10 amino acids per moiety and may also comprise 1 to 3 thioacids or other carboxylic acids. However, when used with an uncharged sub-region, the charged sub-region will generally have from 1-4, frequently 1-3 amino acids. As mentioned above, any amino acid, both naturally occurring and synthetic, may be employed.

In one embodiment an e-tag probe for use in electrophoresis may be represented by the formula: D-L(-Z)_(v)-T wherein D is a label, particularly a fluorescer, L is a mobility modifier, a bond or a linking group where L and the regions to which L is attached may provide for some variation in mobility of the resulting e-tag reporters. T comprises a portion of the target-binding moiety, particularly a nucleoside base, purine or pyrimidine, and is the base, a nucleoside, nucleotide or nucleotide triphosphate, an amino acid, either naturally occurring or synthetic, or other functionality that may serve to participate in the synthesis of an oligomer, when T is retained, and is otherwise a functionality resulting from the cleavage between L, the mobility modifier, and the target-binding moiety. L provides a major factor in the differences in mobility between the different e-tag reporters, in combination with the label and any residual entity, which remain with the mobility modifier. L may or may not include a cleavable linker, depending upon whether the terminal entity to which L is attached is to be retained or completely removed. As discussed above, Z is an organic moiety comprising interactive functionalities, wherein Z is adjacent the cleavable linkage positioned in the electrophoretic probe such that the interactive functionalities do not form part of the released detection group and mobility modifier upon release thereof from the electrophoretic probe; v is the number of organic moieties on L, usually, 1 to about 10, or about 2 to about 8 or about 3 to about 6.

In the above representation of the invention, L has been substantially described as the mobility modifier and as indicated previously may include charged groups, uncharged polar groups or be non-polar. The groups may be alkylene and substituted alkylenes, oxyalkylene and polyoxyalkylene, particularly alkylene of from 2 to 3 carbon atoms, arylenes and substituted arylenes, polyamides, polyethers, polyalkylene amines, etc. Substituents may include heteroatoms, such as halo, phosphorous, nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, etc., where the substituent may be halo, nitro, cyano, non-oxo-carbonyl, e.g. ester, acid and amide, oxo-carbonyl, e.g. aldehyde and keto, amidine, urea, urethane, guanidine, carbamyl, amino and substituted amino, particularly alkyl substituted amino, azo, oxy, e.g. hydroxyl and ether, etc., where the substituents will generally be of from about 0 to 10 carbon atoms, while L will generally be of from about 1 to 100 carbon atoms, more usually of from about 1 to 60 carbon atoms and preferably about 1 to 36 carbon atoms. L will be joined to the label and the target-binding moiety by any convenient functionality, such as carboxy, amino, oxy, phospho, thio, iminoether, etc., where in many cases the label and the target-binding moiety will have a convenient functionality for linkage.

The number of heteroatoms in L is sufficient to impart the desired charge to the label conjugate, usually from about 1 to about 200, more usually from about 2 to 100, heteroatoms. The heteroatoms in L may be substituted with atoms other than hydrogen.

In one embodiment of the present invention the label conjugates having different charge to mass ratios may comprise fluorescent compounds, each of which are linked to molecules that impart a charge to the fluorescent compound conjugate. As indicated previously, desirably the linking group has an overall negative charge, preferably having in the case of a plurality of groups, groups of the same charge, where the total charge may be reduced by having one or more oppositely-charged moieties.

Of particular interest for L is to have two sub-regions, a common charged sub-region, which will be common to a group of e-tag reagents, and a varying uncharged, a non-polar or polar sub-region, that will vary the mass/charge ratio. This permits ease of synthesis, provides for relatively common chemical and physical properties and permits ease of handling. For negative charges, one may use dibasic acids that are substituted with functionalities that permit low orders of oligomerization, such as hydroxy and amino, where amino will usually be present as neutral amide. These charge-imparting groups provide aqueous solubility and allow for various levels of hydrophobicity in the other sub-region. Thus the uncharged sub-region could employ substituted dihydroxybenzenes, diaminobenzenes, or aminophenols, with one or greater number of aromatic rings, fused or non-fused, where substituents may be halo, nitro, cyano, alkyl, etc., allowing for great variation in molecular weight by using a common building block. Where the other regions of the e-tag moiety impart charge, L may be neutral.

In some instances, where release of the e-tag reporter results in an available functionality that can be used to react with a detectable label, there will be no need for R to be a functionality. The release of the e-tag reporter can provide a hydroxyl, amino, carboxy or thiol group, where each may serve as the site for conjugation to the detectable label. To the extent that the e-tag reporter is released free of a component of the target-binding moiety, this opportunity will be present. In that case, R is the unreactive (under the conditions of the conjugation) terminus of L and T is a functionality for release of the e-tag reporter that may be joined to all or a portion of the target-binding moiety or may be available for binding to all or a portion of the target-binding moiety.

Conjugates of particular interest comprise a fluorescent compound and a different amino acid or combinations thereof in the form of a peptide or combinations of amino acids and thioacids or other carboxylic acids. Such compounds are represented by the formula: D′-L′(-Z′)_(v′)-T′ wherein D′ is a fluorescer, L′ is an amino acid or a peptide or combinations of amino acids and thioacids or other carboxylic acids and T′ is a functionality for linking to a nucleoside base or is a nucleoside, nucleotide or nucleotide triphosphate and Z′ is an organic moiety comprising interactive functionalities wherein Z′ is adjacent the cleavable linkage and positioned in the electrophoretic probe such that the interactive functionalities do not form part of the released detection group and mobility modifier upon release thereof from the electrophoretic probe as discussed above; v′ is the number of organic moieties on L, usually, 1 to about 10, or about 2 to about 8 or about 3 to about 6.

In a particular embodiment the label conjugates may be represented by the formula: Fluorescer-L″-(amino acid)_(n)(-Z″)_(v″)-T″ wherein L″ is a bond or a linking group of from 1 to 20 atoms other than hydrogen, n is 1 to 20, and T″ comprises a nucleoside base, purine or pyrimidine, including a base, a nucleoside, a nucleotide or nucleotide triphosphates, an amino acid, or functionality for linking to the target-binding moiety. An example of label conjugates in this embodiment, by way of illustration and not limitation, is one in which the fluorescer is fluorescein, L″ is a bond in the form of an amide linkage involving the meta-carboxyl of the fluorescein and the terminal amine group of lysine, and T″ is a nucleotide triphosphate and Z″ is an organic moiety comprising interactive functionalities as described above wherein Z″ is adjacent the cleavable linkage and positioned in the electrophoretic probe such that the interactive functionalities do not form part of the released detection group and mobility modifier upon release thereof from the electrophoretic probe; v″ is the number of organic moieties on L, usually, 1 to about 10, or about 2 to about 8 or about 3 to about 6. These label conjugates may be represented as follows: Fluorescein-(CO)NH—CH(CH₂)₃CH(NH₂)(amino acid)_(n)COX″ wherein X is as set forth in Table 1.

TABLE 1 No. X Charge 1 OH −2 2 NH-lysine −1 3 NH-(lysine)₂ neutral 4 NH-alanine −3 5 NH-aspartic acid −4 6 NH-(aspartic acid)₂ −5 7 NH-(aspartic acid)₃ −6 8 NH-(aspartic acid)₄ −7 9 NH-(aspartic acid)₅ −8 10 NH-(aspartic acid)₆ −9 11 NH-(aspartic acid)₇ −10 12 NH-alanine-lysine −2 (unique q/M) 13 NH-aspartic acid-lysine −3 (unique q/M) 14 NH-(aspartic acid)₂-lysine −4 (unique q/M) 15 NH-(aspartic acid)₃-lysine −5 (unique q/M) 16 NH-(aspartic acid)₄-lysine −6 (unique q/M) 17 NH-(aspartic acid)₅-lysine −7 (unique q/M) 18 NH-(aspartic acid)₆-lysine −8 (unique q/M) 19 NH-(aspartic acid)₇-lysine −9 (unique q/M) 20 NH-(aspartic acid)₈-lysine −10 (unique q/M) 21 NH-(lysine)₄ + 22 NH-(lysine)₅ +2 wherein q is charge, M is mass and mobility is q/M^(2/3). Examples of such label conjugates are shown in FIG. 1C. Table 2 shows various characteristics for the label conjugates.

TABLE 2 Various Characteristics for the Label Conjugates No. Mass (M) Charge (q) M^(2/3) q/M^(2/3) Mobility 1 744.82 0 82.16765 0 0 2 877.02 0 91.62336 0 0 3 828.71 −1 88.22704 −0.01133 −0.16546 4 970.71 −1 98.03767 −0.0102 −0.1489 5 700.82 −2 78.89891 −0.02535 −0.37004 6 842.83 −2 89.22639 −0.2241 −0.32721 7 815.92 −3 87.31692 −0.03436 −0.50155 8 957.92 −3 97.17461 −0.03087 −0.45067 9 931.02 −4 95.34677 −0.04195 −0.61242 10 1073.02 −4 104.8106 −0.03816 −0.55712 11 1046 −5 103.0436 −0.04852 −0.70834 12 1188 −5 112.1702 −0.04458 −0.65071 13 1161 −6 110.4642 −0.05432 −0.79291 14 1303 −6 119.297 −0.05029 −0.7342 15 1276 −7 117.6433 −0.0595 −0.86861 16 1418 −7 126.2169 −0.05546 −0.80961 17 1391 −8 124.6096 −0.0642 −0.9372 18 1533 −8 132.952 −0.06017 −0.87839 19 1506 −9 131.3863 −0.0685 −0.99997 20 1648 −9 139.6205 −0.06451 −0.94167 21 793.52 1 85.7114 0.011667 0.170316 22 935.52 1 95.65376 0.010454 0.152613

Another group of e-tags has a mobility modifier which is dependent on using an alkylene or aralkylene (comprising a divalent aliphatic group having 1-2 aliphatic regions and 1-2 aromatic regions, generally benzene), where the groups may be substituted or unsubstituted, usually unsubstituted, of from 2-16, more usually 2-12, carbon atoms, where the mobility modifier may link the same or different fluorescers to a monomeric unit, e.g. a nucleotide. The mobility modifier may terminate in a carboxy, hydroxy or amino group, being present as an ester or amide. By varying the substituents on the fluorophor, one can vary the mass in units of at least 5 or more, usually at least about 9, so as to be able to obtain satisfactory separation in capillary electrophoresis. To provide further variation, a thiosuccinimide group may be employed to join alkylene or aralkylene groups at the nitrogen and sulfur, so that the total number of carbon atoms may be in the range of about 2-30, more usually 2-20. Instead of or in combination with the above groups and to add hydrophilicity, one may use alkyleneoxy groups.

Besides the nature of the mobility modifier, as already indicated, diversity can be achieved by the chemical and optical characteristics of the label, the use of energy transfer complexes, variation in the chemical nature of the mobility modifier, which affects mobility, such as folding, interaction with the solvent and ions in the solvent, and the like. In one embodiment of the invention, the mobility modifier will usually be an oligomer, where the mobility modifier may be synthesized on a support or produced by cloning or expression in an appropriate host. Conveniently, polypeptides can be produced where there is only one cysteine or serine/threonine/tyrosine, aspartic/glutamic acid, or lysine/arginine/histidine, other than an end group, so that there is a unique functionality, which may be differentially functionalized. By using protective groups, one can distinguish a side chain functionality from a terminal amino acid functionality. Also, by appropriate design, one may provide for preferential reaction between the same functionalities present at different sites on the mobility modifier. Whether one uses synthesis or cloning for preparation of oligopeptides, will to a substantial degree depend on the length of the mobility modifier.

Substituted aryl groups can serve as both mass- and charge-modifying regions (FIG. 2). Various functionalities may be substituted onto the aromatic group, e.g. phenyl, to provide mass as well as charges to the e-tag reporter. The aryl group may be a terminal group, where only one linking functionality is required, so that a free hydroxyl group may be acylated, may be attached as a side chain to an hydroxyl present on the e-tag reporter chain, or may have two functionalities, e.g. phenolic hydroxyls, that may serve for phophite ester formation and other substituents, such as halo, haloalkyl, nitro, cyano, alkoxycarbonyl, alkylthio, etc. where the groups may be charged or uncharged.

The label conjugates may be prepared utilizing conjugating techniques that are well known in the art. The charge-imparting moiety L may be synthesized from smaller molecules that have functional groups that provide for linking of the molecules to one another, usually in a linear chain. Such functional groups include carboxylic acids, amines, and hydroxy- or thiol- groups. In accordance with the present invention the charge-imparting moiety may have one or more side groups pending from the core chain. The side groups have a functionality to provide for linking to a label or to another molecule of the charge-imparting moiety.

Common functionalities resulting from the reaction of the functional groups employed are exemplified by forming a covalent bond between the molecules to be conjugated. Such functionalities are disulfide, amide, thioamide, dithiol, ether, urea, thiourea, guanidine, azo, thioether, carboxylate and esters and amides containing sulfur and phosphorus such as, e.g. sulfonate, phosphate esters, sulfonamides, thioesters, etc., and the like.

The electrophoretic tags comprise a linker, which provides the linkage between the base and the fluorescent molecule or a functionality that may be used for linking to a fluorescent molecule. By having different functionalities that may be individually bonded to a detectable label, one enhances the opportunity for diversity of the e-tag reagents. Using different fluorescers for joining to the different functionalities, the different fluorescers can provide differences in light emission and mass/charge ratios for the e-tag reporters.

B. Electrophoretic Tags for Use in Electrophoresis

The electrophoretic tag, which is detected, will comprise the mobility modifier, generally a label, and optionally a portion of the target-binding moiety, all of the target-binding moiety when the target is an enzyme and the target-binding moiety is the substrate. Generally, the electrophoretic tag will have a charge/mass ratio in the range of about −0.0001 to 0.1, usually in the range of about −0.001 to about 0.5. Mobility is q/M^(2/3), where q is the charge on the molecule and M is the mass of the molecule. Desirably, the difference in mobility under the conditions of the determination between the closest electrophoretic labels will be at least about 0.001, usually 0.002, more usually at least about 0.01, and may be 0.02 or more.

In those instances where a label is not present on the e-tag moiety bound to the target-binding moiety (e.g., a SNP detection sequence), the mixture may be added to a functionalized fluorescent tag to label the e-tag moiety with a fluorescer. For example, where a thiol group is present, the fluorescer could have an activated ethylene, such as maleic acid to form the thioether. For hydroxyl groups, one could use activated halogen or pseudohalogen for forming an ether, such as an α-haloketone. For carboxyl groups, carbodiimide and appropriate amines or alcohols would form amides and esters, respectively. For an amine, one could use activated carboxylic acids, aldehydes under reducing conditions, activated halogen or pseudohalogen, etc. When synthesizing oligopeptides, protective groups are used. These could be retained while the fluorescent moiety is attached to an available functionality on the oligopeptide.

C. Interactive Functionality

The organic moiety comprising an interactive functionality adjacent the cleavable linkage that is positioned in the electrophoretic probe such that the interactive functionality does not form part of the released detection group and mobility modifier upon release thereof from the electrophoretic probe may be any number of moieties as discussed herein and suggested to those skilled in the art in view of the disclosure herein. In one embodiment the interactive functionality may be a moiety that interacts with the detection moiety to prevent the detection moiety from generating a signal. One such moiety is a quencher, which quenches the signal from the detection moiety. The quenching by the quencher occurs as long as the quencher is in close proximity to the detection moiety. When the e-tag reporter is cleaved, the quencher is no longer in close proximity to the detection moiety, which regains its ability to generate a signal. In a specific embodiment the quencher acts upon a fluorescent moiety to quench the fluorescent signal until cleavage of the cleavable linkage occurs. An additional step for removal of an unwanted species is not necessary for this embodiment. All of the unwanted species, e.g., unreacted starting reagents, cleaved probe and so forth, retain quencher in close proximity to the fluorescent moiety. Accordingly, these unwanted species remain undetected during electroseparation analysis without a separation step.

A diverse number of quenchers or energy acceptors may be employed. The energy acceptor is able to absorb energy from the first fluorescent molecule when brought in proximity with the first fluorescent molecule by means of the cleavable bond or linking group. Energy acceptors are chromophores having substantial absorption higher than 310 nm, normally higher than 350 nm, and preferably higher than about 400 nm. Generally, they are fluorescent compounds but they may have weak or no fluorescence and still be useful. For example, one group includes xanthene dyes, which include the fluoresceins derived from 3,6-dihydroxy-o-phenyl-xanthhydrol and rhodamines, derived form 3,6-diamino-9-phenylxanthhydrol. Another group includes chelates of fluorescent lanthanides such as Eu and Sm. Another group includes the naphthylamines such as, e.g., 1-anilino-8-naphthalene sulfonate, 1-dimethylaminonaphthyl-5-sulfonate and the like. Another group includes natural proteinaceous pigments such as the phycobiliproteins and green fluorescent proteins. Other examples of energy donors and acceptors that may be employed are those fluorescers mentioned above wherein one fluorescer can absorb the energy of another fluorescer. Energy acceptors that are non-fluorescent can include any of a wide variety of azo dyes, cyanine dyes, 4,5-dimethoxyfluorescein, formazans, indophenols and the like. A further discussion of fluorescers and quenchers may also be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,261,968, 4,174,384, 4,199,983 and 3,996,345, the relevant disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

It should be evident from the above that the fluorescer and the quencher be in sufficient proximity in the intact molecule such that the fluorescence of the fluorescer is substantially quenched when the molecule is intact. Also, it should be evident that the fluorescer and the quencher be on opposing sides of the cleavable linkage. The distance between the fluorescer and the quencher is dependent on the nature of the fluorescer and the quencher including their abilities to emit and absorb energy, and so forth. Fluorescers and quenchers may be incorporated into the e-tag probe by virtue of a bond or a linking group where the fluorescer or the quencher has a functionality that is reactive with a functionality on the e-tag probe. The methods employed may be any of those described herein for incorporating a label into a probe. For e-tag probes that are oligonucleotides, the fluorescer or the quencher may be incorporated into the oligonucleotide during synthesis using nucleoside reagents that comprise the fluorescer or the quencher as the case may be.

A specific embodiment of the above is depicted in FIG. 38. Probes containing a quencher residue at the penultimate position result in a single cleavage product (the desired product) being detected during capillary electrophoretic analysis. All undesired products as well as intact probe still contain quencher, which renders them undetectable during capillary electrophoresis.

As mentioned above, the interactive functionality may act by enabling separation of the released detection group and mobility modifier from the electrophoretic probe. In this situation an additional reagent is included that binds to the interactive functionality and enables separation of the various components carrying the detection group.

In one embodiment the capture moiety or the capture agent are a chelator substrate and a chelator for the chelator substrate or vice versa. In one embodiment the chelator substrate comprises a functionality that includes at least two groups such as, for example, hydroxy, thio, amino, substituted amino, carbonyl, oxo, carboxyl, and the like, and combinations thereof. Such functionalities include, for example, 1,2-diols, 1,3-diols, 1,2-aminoalcohols, 1,3-aminoalcohols, 1,2-hydroxy acids, 1,3-hydroxy acids, 1,2-diketones, 1,3-diketones, and so forth. The other member of the pair for the capture moiety and the capture agent is a chelator for the aforementioned functionality.

In one exemplary embodiment the capture moiety is a boronic acid complexing moiety and the capture agent is a boronic acid moiety or vice versa. In other words, the capture moiety may be either a boronic acid complexing moiety or an agent comprising boronic acid and the capture moiety may be the corresponding agent. In one preferred approach the capture moiety is the boronic acid complexing material and the capture agent is a boronic acid reagent. The choice for each of these reagents is dependent on the nature of the assay and the ease of synthesis of the reagents. The boronic acid complexing moieties generally have one or more, usually at least 2 or more, functionalities that can complex or react with a boronic acid group to form a boronic acid ester or diester.

Preferably, the functionalities are in a cis relationship or a coplanar relationship. The cis relationship may result from the functionalities being disposed on an unsaturation such as the carbon atoms of a carbon-carbon double bond or a ring having a geometry that results in a the cis relationship such as, for example, an aromatic ring. The coplanar relationship may be the result of the functionalities being part of an organic moiety that is planar such as, for example, an aromatic ring system comprising one or more aromatic rings usually fused rings. Thus, the coplanar relationship may be found, for example, in an organic moiety that comprises at least two fused rings where each functionality is disposed on a different ring in, for example, a 1,3 relationship.

Preferably, the boronic acid complexing moieties have a pKa in the range of about 3 to about 11, or in the range of about 4 to about 10. The functionalities may be, for example, hydroxy, amino, substituted amino (substituted with alkyl or aryl and the like), thio, carbonyl, oxo, carboxyl, carboxamide, substituted carboxamide (nitrogen substituted with alkyl or aryl and the like), and the like, and combinations thereof. Such functionalities include, for example, 1,2-diols, 1,3-diols, 1,2-aminoalcohols, 1,3-aminoalcohols, 1,2-hydroxy acids, 1,3-hydroxy acids, 1,2-hydroxy acid amides, 1,3-hydroxy acid amides, dioximes, and so forth. The functionalities may be part of an organic moiety having about 6 to about 100 atoms selected from the group consisting of carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and so forth. Usually, the organic moiety has from about 2 to about 60 carbon atoms, more usually, about 5 to about 50 carbon atoms, and at least one of the aforementioned functionalities. The organic moiety may have from about one to about 10 of the aforementioned functionalities. Specific examples of organic moieties having one of the aforementioned functionalities are, by way of illustration and not limitation, ortho-hydroxybenzenes (catechols), ortho-hydroxybenzohydroxamic acids, ortho-hydroxybenzoic acids, ortho-hydroxybenzamides, imidazolyl phenols, dihydroxyfumaric acids, hydroxy pyridine aldehydes, hydroxyanthraquinone dioximes, and so forth. Examples by way of illustration and not limitation of particular compounds that may be incorporated into the biopolymers or biopolymer monomer precursors include catechol, salicylamide, N-phenylsalicylamidine, 2-(4′imidazolyl)phenol, 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene, dihydroxyfumaric acid, salicylaldehyde, 3-hydroxypyridine-4-aldehyde, pyridoxamine, 1-hydroxyanthraquinone dioxime, disalicylimide, and so forth.

In general, the interactive functionalities are incorporated into the e-tag probe in a manner and at a position such as not to interfere with the binding capabilities and related properties of the e-tag probe. The interactive functionalities may be incorporated into the e-tag probe by reaction of one or more functionalities on the e-tag probe backbone with an appropriate functionality on a reagent comprising the interactive functionality. Alternatively, one or more of the e-tag probe monomers may be treated to incorporate the interactive functionality usually by reaction of one or more functionalities on the monomer with an appropriate functionality on a reagent comprising the interactive functionality.

The following discussion is directed to e-tag probes that are polynucleotides such as oligonucleotides and the nucleoside monomers that form the polynucleotides. One approach in preparing polynucleotides having the appropriate functionalities involves the use of nucleosides that comprise a ribose sugar, a nucleotide or a purine or pyrimidine base and an organic moiety comprising interactive functionalities. The organic moiety may be incorporated into the nucleoside on the sugar moiety or on the base moiety as long as functionality is present for linking to the organic moiety. Attachment may be directly through a bond or indirectly through the intermediacy of a linking group.

An example of a nucleoside that may be employed is represented by the following formula:

wherein R¹ is H, dimethoxytrityl (DMT), triphosphate ester, diphosphate ester, monophosphate ester;

-   R² is H or phosphoramidite; -   R³ is H, OH, ODMT or OX(Y)_(p); -   R⁴ is one of:     and wherein in R⁴, p is 0 to 3, usually, 1 to 3, and wherein p in at     least one of R³ or R⁴ is 1, and -   wherein X is a bond or a linking group, and -   wherein Y is Y_(a) or Y_(b), and -   wherein     wherein, in Y_(a), R⁵ and R⁶ are independently hydroxy, amino,     substituted amino, carbonyl (as in aldehyde and the like),     carboxamide, hydroxamic, and the like, or any of the aforementioned     functionalities bound to a protecting group such as, for example,     acetyl, ethyl, isobutyryl, t-butyryl, and so forth, and wherein R⁷     and R⁸ are independently carboxy, cyano, and the like, or are taken     together to form one or more rings, usually, 1 to 3 rings, which are     usually fused when more than one ring, wherein each of the rings may     comprise 5 to 10 atoms, usually, 5 to 6 atoms, which are usually     carbon but 1 to 2 atoms may be a heteroatom such as, for example,     nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, and the like, wherein the rings may     comprise one or more unsaturations, usually double bonds, in     addition to the double bond of the above formula, such as, for     example, phenyl, anthranyl pyridinyl, and the like, wherein the     atoms of the rings are usually substituted with hydrogen but may be     substituted with one or more groups such as, for example, alkyl,     hydroxy, nitro, oxo, and the like, wherein X is linked to Y_(a)     through R⁷ or R⁸ or -   wherein, in Y_(b), R⁵ and R⁶ are as described above and -   wherein R¹⁰ and R¹¹ and R¹² are independently carboxyl, cyano, and     the like, or may be taken together to form one or more rings,     usually, 2 to 3 rings, which, when more than one ring, are usually     fused, wherein each ring may comprise 5 to 10 atoms, usually, 5 to 6     atoms, which are usually carbon but 1 to 2 atoms may be a heteroatom     such as, for example, nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, and the like,     wherein the rings may comprise one or more unsaturations, usually     double bonds, in addition to the double bonds of the above formula,     such as, aromatic rings and fused aromatic rings, for example,     naphthyl, anthranyl, phenanthryl, and the like, wherein the atoms of     the rings are usually substituted with hydrogen but may be     substituted with one or more moieties such as, for example, alkyl,     hydroxy, nitro, oxo, and the like, wherein X is linked to Y through     R¹⁰ or R¹¹ or R¹².

The linking group may be a chain of from 1 to 100 atoms, usually from about 1 to 70 atoms, preferably 1 to 50 atoms more preferably 2 to 30 atoms, each independently selected from the group normally consisting of carbon, oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, halogen and phosphorous. The number of heteroatoms in the linking groups will normally range from about 0 to 20, usually from about 1 to 15, more preferably 2 to 6. The atoms in the chain may be substituted with atoms other than hydrogen. As a general rule, the length of a particular linking group can be selected arbitrarily to provide for convenience of synthesis. Under appropriate circumstances the linking group may comprise functional groups such as, e.g., ether groups, carbonyl functionalities, both oxocarbonyl, e.g., aldehyde, and non-oxocarbonyl (including nitrogen and sulfur analogs) e.g., carboxy, amidine, amidate, thiocarboxy and thionocarboxy. Common functionalities in forming a covalent bond between the linking group and the moiety to which it is linked are ether, alkylamine, amidine, thioamide, urea, thiourea, guanidine, azo, thioether and carboxylate, sulfonate, and phosphate esters, amides and thioesters. The linking group may comprise one or more polyoxyalkylene groups such as, for example, polyoxyethylene groups comprising from about 1 to about 100 oxyalkylene groups. Y may be attached to the terminus of the linking group or, where more than one Y are present, Y may also be attached at a point along the chain of the linking group usually through the intermediacy of a functionality for binding Y to the chain.

Another specific embodiment of nucleosides that may be employed in the synthesis of polynucleotide e-tag probes is represented by the formula:

wherein R¹, R², R³ and R⁴, X and p are as described above, and

-   wherein Y is Y_(a)′ or Y_(b)′ -   wherein     wherein, in Y_(a), A¹ to A⁵ are independently hydrogen, hydroxy,     amino, substituted amino, carbonyl (as in aldehyde and the like),     carboxamide, hydroxamic, and the like, or any of the aforementioned     functionalities bound to a protecting group such as, for example,     acetyl, ethyl, isobutyryl, t-butyryl, and so forth, wherein at least     two adjacent members of A¹ to A⁵ are not hydrogen, preferably, at     least two adjacent members of A² to A⁴ are not hydrogen and wherein,     in Y_(b), A⁶ and A⁷ are independently hydroxy, amino, substituted     amino, carbonyl (as in aldehyde and the like), carboxamide,     hydroxamic, and the like, or any of the aforementioned     functionalities bound to a protecting group such as, for example,     acetyl, ethyl, isobutyryl, t-butyryl, and so forth, and wherein one     of A⁸ to A¹³ are linked to X and, when not linked to X, are     independently hydrogen, hydroxy, amino, substituted amino, carbonyl     (as in aldehyde and the like), carboxamide, hydroxamic, and so     forth.

Other specific embodiments of reagents that may be used to prepare e-tag probes are set forth in the following formulas:

wherein X and Y are as described above, DMT is defined above and CPG is controlled pore glass. Specific examples of the compounds within the above formulas are set forth in FIGS. 35 and 49.

Certain specific embodiments of dNTP's of catechol-dC, dT, dA, dG and dU are shown in FIGS. 50A-50E. Furthermore, certain specific embodiments of phosphoramidites of catechol-dC, dT, dA, dG and dU are shown in FIGS. 51A-51E (acetyl protecting group) and FIGS. 51F-51J (isobutyryl protecting group). The dNTP's and the phosphoramidites may be synthesized according to procedures well known in the art and employing the synthetic techniques described herein for incorporation of catechol moieties. The resulting materials may be employed in the synthesis of polynucleotides and oligonucleotides comprising one or more catechol moieties.

FIGS. 52 and 53 depicts various catechol compounds that comprise functionalities for reaction with a corresponding functionality on the nucleoside or oligonucleotide to incorporate the catechol moiety into the nucleoside or oligonucleotide. The linking groups shown are exemplary of those that may be employed in the present invention. X′ is alkylene such as methylene, O, NH, S, and the like, or combinations thereof, n is 1 to 12, R is alkyl of 1 to 12 carbon atoms such as methyl, ethyl and so forth, and Y″ is Cl, Br, or I.

The aforementioned nucleosides may be employed in the synthesis of polynucleotides to incorporate therein the interactive functionalities. Nucleoside monomers may be used to form the polynucleotides usually by phosphate coupling, either direct phosphate coupling or coupling using a phosphate precursor such as a phosphite coupling. Such coupling thus includes the use of amidite (phosphoramidite), phosphodiester, phosphotriester, H-phosphonate, phosphite halide, and the like coupling. In one approach standard phosphoramidite chemistry may be employed. The phosphoramidite coupling is a phosphite coupling. In using this coupling method, after the phosphite coupling is complete, the resulting phosphite is oxidized to a phosphate. Oxidation can be effected with iodine to give phosphates or with sulfur to give phosphorothioates. The phosphoramidites are dissolved in anhydrous acetonitrile to give a solution having a given ratio of amidite concentrations. The mixture of known chemically compatible monomers may be reacted to attach to a solid support, or further along, may be reacted to a growing chain of monomer units. In one particular example, the terminal 5′-hydroxyl group is caused to react with a deoxyribonucleoside-3′-O-(N,N-diisopropylamino)phosphoramidite protected at the 5′-position with dimethoxytrityl or the like. The 5′ protecting group is removed after the coupling reaction, and the procedure is repeated with additional protected nucleotides until synthesis of the desired polynucleotide is complete. For a more detailed discussion of the chemistry involved in the above synthetic approaches, see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,436,327 at column 2, line 34, to column 4, line 36, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

In a preferred embodiment, the boronic acid complexing moiety is a cis-diol functionality incorporated into the electrophoretic probe. The cis-diol is usually a 1,2-diol or vicinal diol having hydroxyl groups on adjacent carbon atoms. The catechol moiety may be substituted with one or more moieties such as, for example, alkyl, nitro, hydroxyl, and so forth.

In one exemplary embodiment, an organic moiety comprising a cis-diol may be incorporated as the capture moiety at the penultimate nucleotide of an oligonucleotide reagent. This capture moiety enables efficient clean-up after, for example, a standard nuclease assay. The organic moiety comprising a cis-diol may be incorporated into an oligonucleotide by known chemical reactions. See, for example, Cao, et al., Chem. Pharm. Bull. (2000) 48(11) 1745.

As is evident from the above, the cis-diol functionality requires protection during automated DNA synthesis. The protecting group is preferably acid-stable. Examples of protecting groups, by way of illustration and not limitation, are carbonates, esters, and allelic-based protecting groups, which are removed during ammonolysis or via treatment with specialized reagents such as palladium in the case of allyloxy carbonyl groups.

In another exemplary embodiment, a boronic acid moiety may be incorporated as the capture moiety at the penultimate nucleotide of an oligonucleotide reagent. This capture moiety may be incorporated into an oligonucleotide by known chemical reactions. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,013,783, 5,876,938 and 6,031,117. In one approach modified nucleic acid monomers are employed to prepare modified polynucleotides. The modified nucleic acid monomers contain a boric or boronic acid moiety attached to a heterocyclic portion of the nucleic acid. The attachment is made via a linking group that is typically from 7 to 30 carbon atoms in length and comprises an aromatic ring. The linking group is also of sufficient length that the boronic acid group can form a complex with a boronic acid complexing agent when the modified nucleic acid is incorporated into a polynucleotide. For additional discussion, see U.S. Pat. No. 5,876,938, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

The boronic acid moiety includes at least one boron atom substituted with moieties that permit complex formation with a boronic acid complexing moiety. Usually, the boronic acid moiety is derived from boronic acid that is substituted with an organic moiety having about 2 to about 100 atoms selected from the group consisting of carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and the like. Usually, the organic moiety has from about 2 to about 60 carbon atoms and at least one of the aforementioned functionalities. The organic moiety may be aliphatic or aromatic and may have from about one to about 10 of the aforementioned functionalities. An important consideration regarding the boronic acid moiety is its acidity. In general, the higher the acidity of the boronic acid moiety, the better is the ability to complex with the boronic acid complexing moiety. Desirably, the pKa of the boronic acid moiety is below about 11, preferably below about 9, more preferably, below about 8.75. The lower the pKa of the boronic acid moiety, the better the ability to separate biomolecules under physiological conditions, for example, at a pH of about 7.4. Accordingly, substituents on the boron that enhance the acidity over that of boronic acid are preferred. Aromatic substituents on the boron are preferred such as, for example, phenyl and substituted phenyl (substituted with one or more functionalities such as amino, nitro, and the like, and so forth. To enhance the acidity of the boronic acid moiety the aromatic substituents preferably contain one or more electron-withdrawing groups such as, for example, nitro, cyano, carboxyl, keto, and the like. Specific examples of organic moieties for the boronic acid moiety include phenyl, aminophenyl, and so forth. Specific boronic acid moieties include, by way of illustration and not limitation, phenyl boronic acid, (3-aminophenyl)boronic acid, and the like. Other examples may be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,623,055, 5,876,938, 6,013,783 and 5,831,045, the relevant disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. Some examples of specific phenylboronic acids are depicted in FIG. 54.

Placement of the cis-diol modification or the boronic acid moiety at the penultimate residue leads to its presence in all undesired products as well as intact probe upon cleavage of the electrophoretic probe in accordance with the present invention. After the assay has been run and cleavage takes place and prior to electrophoretic analysis, a capture agent is added to bind with the capture moiety. The capture agent is either a boronic acid moiety or a boronic acid complexing moiety depending on the nature of the capture moiety. Where the capture moiety is a boronic acid complexing moiety, the capture agent is a boronic acid moiety.

To assist in the separation of the unwanted materials from the materials of interest, it is preferable that a support be employed comprising one of the entities such as the capture moiety or the capture agent. In general, the support may be any that are discussed herein. Examples of supports, by way of illustration and not limitation, include polysaccharides such as, e.g., dextran, aminodextran, cellulose, agarose, etc., polyacrylamide, polymethylmethacrylate, silica, glass, and the like, polymers that include a boronic acid derivative as an integral part of a polymer backbone, gels that comprise one of the aforementioned supports such as, e.g., a poly(methacrylic acid) polymer, cellulose, etc., and so forth. In one embodiment the support is a boronate gel such as, for example, Affi-Gel 601® (BioRad Laboratories, Richmond, Calif.), polyacrylamide bulk gel from Aldrich Chemical Co., Milwaukee, Wis., agarose bulk gel from Amicon Corp., Danvers, Mass., polymethylmethacrylate bulk gel from Toyo-Soda Corp., Tokyo, Japan, agarose and polyacrylamide bulk gels from Pierce Chemical Co., Rockford Ill. and so forth. In another embodiment the boronate support is a pre-packed SPE silica tube from Analytichem Intl., Harbor City Calif. In another embodiment the boronate support is a high performance ligand affinity chromatography (HPLAC) column, either agarose or polyacrylamide, from Pierce Chemical Co., or polymethylmethacrylate from Toyo-Soda Corp. and so forth. Structures of some typical boronate affinity matrices are depicted in FIG. 55.

For boronate supports that are not commercially available, the boronic acid moiety, or the boronic acid complexing moiety as the case may be, is linked to the support using methodology similar to that described above for linking other entities to supports. In another approach a boronic acid moiety may be incorporated into a polymeric support during the polymerization step. For some supports such as polysaccharide supports, e.g., dextran, the support itself functions as the boronic acid complexing moiety for a boronic acid moiety that is part of the electrophoretic probe.

The complexation of boronic acids and the boronic acid complexing moiety is usually carried out in a buffered medium, usually an aqueous buffered medium, at a pH of about 7.5 to about 10.0 about 8.5 to about 9.5. Particular buffers that may be employed are those that increase the retention volume of the support and include, by way of illustration and not limitation, HEPES buffer, and so forth. In addition, materials that increase the retention volume of the support such as NaCl, MgCl₂, EDTA, piperidine, and the like, may also be included.

FIG. 39 depicts a specific embodiment of the above. Probes containing a diol-modified residue at the penultimate position allow all undesired products as well as intact probe to be removed via addition of boronated aminodextran. The resulting chelation-generated species are positively charged and are thus not injected during capillary electrophoretic analysis.

In another approach similar to that discussed above, the chelator substrate comprises a dithiols and the chelator is an arsenic-containing moiety. As above, one may be the capture agent and the other may be the capture moiety. As with diols, when the dithiol modification is to be incorporated into the electrophoretic probe, it is protected during polynucleotide synthesis. The protection may be obtained using the oxidized disulfide but other possibilities include but are not limited to thioesters, and the like. After probe synthesis, the protecting groups are removed with either ammonia treatment or a reductive step such as, for example, treatment with dithiothreitol and the like. Again, placement of this modification at the penultimate residue results in all undesired cleavage products containing the dithiol functionality or a chelator for the dithiol functionality including unreacted intact probe. The dithiol functionality may be incorporated into the electrophoretic probe by techniques known in the art. The chelator for the dithiol functionality may be, for example, an arsenic moiety, and the like. An arsenic moiety may be incorporated into the electrophoretic probe by techniques known in the art.

After the assay has been run and prior to electrophoretic analysis, the reaction mixture is treated to remove species bearing the dithiol functionality or the arsenic moiety. As discussed above, a support is employed comprising one of the above species, which may be included as part of the support as discussed above. In a particular embodiment the dithiol functionality is incorporated into the electrophoretic probes and an arsenic adorned aminodextran is contacted with the reaction mixture. In this way all undesired products and unreacted intact probe become attached to the aminodextran because of the presence of the dithiol functionality. As such, all unwanted species become positively charged and are not injected during electrophoretic analysis using, for example, a capillary electrophoresis.

FIG. 40 depicts, by way of example and not limitation, a dithiol variation of chelation-mediated cleanup of a 5′-nuclease assay. Probes containing a dithiol-modified residue at the penultimate position allow all undesired products as well as intact probe to be removed via addition of arsenic aminodextran. The resulting chelation-generated species are positively charged and are thus not injected during capillary electrophoretic analysis. The capture agent or capture moiety may be a transition metal chelator. The chelator usually comprises about 2 to about 4 metal coordinating sites. The coordinating sites may be comprised of oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and the like. Examples include but are not limited to bis-imidazoles, acetoacetate, and the like. The chelation substrate may be a transition metal such as nickel, iron and the like. As discussed above, one of the above may be incorporated into the electrophoretic probe and the other may be part of a support for removal of unwanted species from a reaction mixture. The transition metal chelator or the transition metal may be incorporated into the electrophoretic probe by techniques known in the art.

After the assay has been run and prior to electrophoretic analysis, the reaction mixture is treated to remove species bearing the transition metal or the transition metal chelator. As discussed above, a support may be employed comprising one of the above species, which may be included as part of the support as discussed above. In a particular embodiment the transition metal chelator is incorporated into the electrophoretic probes and the support is particulate transition metal, which is contacted with the reaction mixture. In this way all undesired products and unreacted intact probe become attached to the particulate transition metal. As such, all unwanted species may be removed and are not injected during electrophoretic analysis using, for example, a capillary electrophoresis.

FIG. 41 depicts a specific embodiment of the above procedure. Probes containing a metal chelator residue at the penultimate position allow all undesired products as well as intact probe to be removed via addition of a transition metal. The resulting chelation generates species that are positively charged and are thus not injected during capillary electrophoretic analysis. In another embodiment the chelation substrate may be a ferrocene moiety, which may be incorporated into the electrophoretic probe by techniques that are known in the art. The chelator may be a moiety that comprises an amino group, and the like. The chelator may be part of a support as discussed above. In one embodiment the capture agent is β-aminocyclodextran, and the like.

After the assay has been run and prior to electrophoretic analysis, the reaction mixture is treated to remove species bearing the chelator or the chelator substrate. In a particular embodiment ferrocene is incorporated into the electrophoretic probes and the support is β-aminocyclodextran, which is contacted with the reaction mixture. In this way all undesired products and unreacted intact probe become attached to the β-aminocyclodextran. As such, all unwanted species may be removed and are not injected during electrophoretic analysis using, for example, a capillary electrophoresis.

FIG. 42 depicts, by way of illustration and not limitation, a ferrocene-based cleanup of 5′-nuclease assay. Probes containing a ferrocene residue at the penultimate position allow all undesired products as well as intact probe to be removed via addition of β-aminocyclodextran. The resulting chelation generates species that are removed and are thus not injected during capillary electrophoretic analysis.

In another approach the capture agent and the capture moiety pair may be a ligand and anti-ligand or receptor pair sometimes referred to as members of a specific binding pair. As discussed above, the members may be, for example, members of an immunological pair such as antigen-antibody, biotin-avidin, hormones-hormone receptors, nucleic acid duplexes, IgG-protein A, polynucleotide pairs such as DNA-DNA, DNA-RNA, protein-nucleic acid complexes, and the like. The aforementioned substances may be incorporated into electrophoretic probes and made part of a support as discussed herein. In one embodiment a hapten may be attached at the penultimate site of a polynucleotide electrophoretic probe, for example, during synthesis. A support is employed having antibody for the hapten bound thereto. In this way all undesired products and unreacted intact probe become attached to the antibody on the support. As such, all unwanted species are removed and are not injected during electrophoretic analysis using, for example, a capillary electrophoresis device. In another embodiment a sequence of nucleotides may be attached to the electrophoretic probe where the sequence of nucleotides does not hybridize with a target. A support is employed having bound thereto a sequence of nucleotides that is hybridizable with the above sequence. In this way all undesired products and unreacted intact probe become attached to the sequence on the support. As such, all unwanted species are removed and are not injected during electrophoretic analysis using, for example, capillary electrophoresis.

Other reagents that are useful include a ligand-modified nucleotide and its receptor. Ligands and receptors include biotin and streptavidin, ligand and antiligand, e.g. digoxin or derivative thereof and antidigoxin, etc. By having a ligand conjugated to the oligonucleotide, one can sequester the e-tag-conjugated oligonucleotide probe and its target with the receptor, remove unhybridized e-tag reporter conjugated oligonucleotide and then release the bound e-tag reporters or bind an oppositely charged receptor, so that the ligand-receptor complex with the e-tag reporter migrates in the opposite direction.

In one exemplary use of capture ligands, a SNP detection sequence may be further modified to improve separation and detection of the released e-tag reporters. By virtue of the difference in mobility of the e-tag probes, the SNP detection sequences will also have different mobilities. Furthermore, these molecules will be present in much larger amounts than the released e-tag reporters, so that they may obscure detection of the released e-tag reporters. Also, it is desirable to have negatively charged SNP detection sequence molecules, since they provide for higher enzymatic activity and decrease capillary wall interaction. Therefore, by providing that the intact SNP detection sequence molecule can be modified with a positively charged moiety, but not the e-tag reporter, one can change the electrostatic nature of the SNP detection sequence molecules during the separation. By providing for a capture ligand on the SNP detection sequence molecule to which a positively charged molecule can bind, one need only add the positively charged molecule to change the electrostatic nature of the SNP detection sequence molecule. Conveniently, one will usually have a ligand of under about 1 kDa. This may be exemplified by the use of biotin as the ligand and avidin, which is highly positively charged, as the receptor (capture agent)/positively charged molecule. Instead of biotin/avidin, one may have other pairs, where the receptor, e.g. antibody, is naturally positively charged or is made so by conjugation with one or more positively charged entities, such as arginine, lysine or histidine, ammonium, etc. The presence of the positively charged moiety has many advantages in substantially removing the SNP detection sequence molecules.

If desired, the receptor may be used to physically sequester the molecules to which it binds, removing entirely intact e-tag probes containing the target-binding moiety or modified target-binding moieties retaining the ligand. These modified target-binding moieties may be as a result of degradation of the starting material, contaminants during the preparation, aberrant cleavage, etc., or other nonspecific degradation products of the target binding sequence. As above, a ligand, exemplified by biotin, is attached to the target-binding moiety, e.g. the penultimate nucleoside, so as to be separated from the e-tag reporter upon cleavage.

After a 5′ nuclease assay, a receptor for the ligand, for biotin exemplified by streptavidin (hereafter “avidin”) is added to the assay mixture (Example 10). Other receptors include natural or synthetic receptors, such as immunoglobulins, lectins, enzymes, etc. Desirably, the receptor is positively charged, naturally as in the case of avidin, or is made so, by the addition of a positively charged moiety or moieties, such as ammonium groups, basic amino acids, etc. Avidin binds to the biotin attached to the detection probe and its degradation products. Avidin is positively charged, while the cleaved electrophoretic tag is negatively charged. Thus the separation of the cleaved electrophoretic tag from, not only uncleaved probe, but also its degradation products, is easily achieved by using conventional separation methods. Alternatively, the receptor may be bound to a solid support or high molecular weight macromolecule, such as a vessel wall, particles including beads, e.g. magnetic particles, cellulose, agarose, etc., and separated by physical separation or centrifugation, dialysis, etc. This method further enhances the specificity of the assay and allows for a higher degree of multiplexing.

As a general matter, one may have two ligands, if the nature of the target-binding moiety permits. As described above, one ligand can be used for sequestering e-tag groups bound to the target-binding moiety, retaining the first ligand from products lacking the first ligand. Isolation and concentration of the e-tag groups bound to a modified target-binding moiety lacking the first ligand would then be performed. In using the two ligands, one would first combine the reaction mixture with a first receptor for the first ligand for removing target-binding moiety retaining the first ligand. One could either separate the first receptor from the composition or the first receptor would be retained in the composition, as described. This would be followed by combining the resulting composition, where the target-binding moiety containing the first ligand is bound to the first receptor, with the second receptor, which would serve to isolate or enrich for modified target-binding moiety lacking the first ligand, but retaining the second ligand. The second ligand could be the detectable label, a small molecule for which a receptor is available, e.g. a hapten, or a portion of the e-tag moiety could serve as the second ligand. After the product is isolated or enriched, the e-tag could be released by denaturation of the receptor, displacement of the product, high salt concentrations and/or organic solvents, etc.

For e-tag moieties associated with nucleic acid sequences, improvements include employing a blocking linkage between nucleotides in the sequence, particularly at least one of the links between the second to fourth nucleotides to inhibit cleavage at this or subsequent sites, and using control sequences for quantitation. Further improvements in the e-tag reagents provide for having a positively multicharged moiety joined to the e-tag probe during separation.

While the ligand may be present at a position other than the penultimate cleavage is directed to the penultimate linkage, this will not be as efficient as having cleavage at the ultimate linkage.

The above are generally applicable not only to generating a single e-tag reporter molecule per sequence detected, but also to generation of a single oligonucleotide fragment for fragment separation and identification by electrophoresis or by mass spectra, as it is essential to get one fragment per sequence detected. For purpose of explanation, these methods are illustrated below. FIGS. 3A-C provide a schematic illustration of the generalized methods of the invention employing a nucleotide target and a 5′ exonuclease indicating that only one e-tag reporter molecule is generated per target for maximum multiplexing capabilities.

D. E-tag Reagents—Synthesis

The chemistry for performing the types of syntheses to form the charge-imparting moiety or mobility modifier as a peptide chain is well known in the art. See, for example, Marglin, et al., Ann. Rev. Biochem. (1970) 39:841-866. In general, such syntheses involve blocking, with an appropriate protecting group, those functional groups that are not to be involved in the reaction. The free functional groups are then reacted to form the desired linkages. The peptide can be produced on a resin as in the Merrifield synthesis (Merrifield, J. Am. Chem. Soc. (1980) 85:2149-2154 and Houghten et al., Int. J. Pep. Prot. Res. (1980) 16:311-320. The peptide is then removed from the resin according to known techniques.

A summary of the many techniques available for the synthesis of peptides may be found in J. M. Stewart, et al., “Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis, W. H. Freeman Co, San Francisco (1969); and J. Meienhofer, “Hormonal Proteins and Peptides”, (1973), vol. 2, p 46, Academic Press (New York), for solid phase peptide synthesis; and E. Schroder, et al., “The Peptides, vol. 1, Academic Press (New York), 1965 for solution synthesis.

In general, these methods comprise the sequential addition of one or more amino acids, or suitably protected amino acids, to a growing peptide chain. Normally, a suitable protecting group protects either the amino or carboxyl group of the first amino acid. The protected or derivatized amino acid can then be either attached to an inert solid support or utilized in solution by adding the next amino acid in the sequence having the complementary (amino or carboxyl) group suitably protected, under conditions suitable for forming the amide linkage. The protecting group is then removed from this newly added amino acid residue and the next amino acid (suitably protected) is then added, and so forth. After all the desired amino acids have been linked in the proper sequence, any remaining protecting groups (and any solid support) are removed sequentially or concurrently, to afford the final peptide. The protecting groups are removed, as desired, according to known methods depending on the particular protecting group utilized. For example, the protecting group may be removed by reduction with hydrogen and palladium on charcoal, sodium in liquid ammonia, etc.; hydrolysis with trifluoroacetic acid, hydrofluoric acid, and the like.

In one exemplary approach, after the synthesis of the peptide is complete, the peptide is removed from the resin by conventional means such as ammonolysis, acidolysis and the like. The fully deprotected peptide may then be purified by techniques known in the art such as chromatography, for example, adsorption chromatography, ion exchange chromatography, partition chromatography, high performance liquid chromatography, thin layer chromatography, and so forth.

As can be seen, the selected peptide representing a charge-imparting moiety may be synthesized separately and then attached to the label either directly or by means of a linking group. On the other hand, the peptide may be synthesized as a growing chain on the label. In any of the above approaches, the linking of the peptide or amino acid to the label may be carried out using one or more of the techniques described above for the synthesis of peptides or for linking moieties to labels.

Synthesis of e-tag probes comprising nucleotides can be easily and effectively achieved via assembly on a solid phase support during probe synthesis, using standard phosphoramidite chemistries. The e-tag probes are assembled at the 5′-end of probes after coupling of a final nucleosidic residue, which becomes part of the e-tag reporter during the assay.

In one approach, the e-tag probe is constructed sequentially from a single or several monomeric phosphoramidite building blocks (one containing a dye residue), which are chosen to generate tags with unique electrophoretic mobilities based on their mass to charge ratio. The e-tag probe is thus composed of monomeric units of variable charge to mass ratios bridged by phosphate linkers.

The penultimate coupling during probe synthesis is initially carried out using commercially available modified (and unmodified) phosphoramidites. FIG. 7 shows the structure of several mobility-modified nucleic acid phosphoramidites that can be employed at the penultimate coupling during e-tag probe synthesis on a standard DNA synthesizer.

This residue is able to form hydrogen bonds to its partner in the target strand and is considered a mass modifier but could potentially be a charge modifier as well. The phosphate bridge formed during this coupling is the linkage severed during the 5′-nuclease assay. The final coupling is done using a phosphoramidite analogue of a dye. Fluorescein is conveniently employed, but other dyes can be used as well.

FIG. 6 illustrates predicted and experimental (*) elution times of e-tag reporters. C₃, C₆, C₉, and C₁₈ are commercially available phosphoramidite spacers from Glen Research, Sterling Va. The units are derivatives of N,N-diisopropyl, O-cyanoethyl phosphoramidite, which is indicated by “Q”. C₃ is DMT (dimethoxytrityl)oxypropyl Q; C₆ is DMToxyhexyl Q; C₉ is DMToxy(triethyleneoxy) Q; C₁₂ is DMToxydodecyl Q; C₁₈ is DMToxy(hexaethyleneoxy) Q. e-tag reagents are synthesized to generate a contiguous spectrum of signals, one eluting after another with none of them coeluting (FIG. 8).

All of the above e-tag reagents work well and are easily separable and elute at 40 minutes. To generate tags that elute faster, highly charged low molecular weight tags are typically employed. Several types of phosphoramidite monomers allow for the synthesis of highly charged tags with early elution times. Use of dicarboxylate phosphoramidites (FIG. 9, left) allows for the addition of 3 negative charges per coupling of monomer. A variety of fluorescein derivatives (FIG. 9, right) allow the dye component of the tag to carry a higher mass than standard fluorescein. Polyhydroxylated phosphoramidites (FIG. 10) in combination with a common phosphorylation reagent enable the synthesis of highly phosphorylated tags. Combinations of these reagents with other mass modifier linker phosphoramidites allow for the synthesis of tags with early elution times.

The aforementioned label conjugates with different electrophoretic mobility permit a multiplexed amplification and detection of multiple targets, e.g. nucleic acid targets. The label conjugates are linked to oligonucleotides in a manner similar to that for labels in general, by means of linkages that are enzymatically cleavable. It is, of course, within the purview of the present invention to prepare any number of label conjugates for performing multiplexed determinations. Accordingly, for example, with 40 to 50 different label conjugates separated in a single separation channel and 96 different amplification reactions with 96 separation channels on a single plastic chip, one can detect 4000 to 5000 single nucleotide polymorphisms.

One exemplary synthetic approach is outlined in FIG. 11. Starting with commercially available 6-carboxy fluorescein, the phenolic hydroxyl groups are protected using an anhydride. Isobutyric anhydride in pyridine was employed but other variants are equally suitable. It is important to note the significance of choosing an ester functionality as the protecting group. This species remains intact though the phosphoramidite monomer synthesis as well as during oligonucleotide construction. These groups are not removed until the synthesized oligo is deprotected using ammonia. After protection the crude material is then activated in situ via formation of an N-hydroxy succinimide ester (NHS-ester) using DCC as a coupling agent. The DCU byproduct is filtered away and an amino alcohol is added. Many amino alcohols are commercially available some of which are derived from reduction of amino acids. Only the amine is reactive enough to displace N-hydroxy succinimide. Upon standard extractive workup, a 95% yield of product is obtained. This material is phosphitylated to generate the phosphoramidite monomer (FIG. 11). For the synthesis of additional e-tag probes, a symmetrical bis-amino alcohol linker is used as the amino alcohol (FIG. 12). As such, the second amine is then coupled with a multitude of carboxylic acid derivatives (exemplified by several possible benzoic acid derivatives shown in FIG. 2) prior to the phosphitylation reaction. Using this methodology hundreds, even thousands of e-tag moieties with varying charge to mass ratios can easily be assembled during probe synthesis on a DNA synthesizer using standard chemistries.

Alternatively, e-tag reagents are accessed via an alternative strategy that uses 5-aminofluorescein as starting material (FIG. 13). Addition of 5-aminofluorescein to a great excess of a diacid dichloride in a large volume of solvent allows for the predominant formation of the monoacylated product over dimer formation. The phenolic groups are not reactive under these conditions. Aqueous workup converts the terminal acid chloride to a carboxylic acid. This product is analogous to 6-carboxyfluorescein, and using the same series of steps is converted to its protected phosphoramidite monomer (FIG. 13). There are many commercially available diacid dichorides and diacids, which can be converted to diacid dichlorides using SOCl₂ or acetyl chloride. This methodology is highly attractive in that a second mobility modifier is used. As such, if one has access to 10 commercial modified phosphoramidites and 10 diacid dichlorides and 10 amino alcohols there is a potential for 1000 different e-tag moieties. There are many commercial diacid dichlorides and amino alcohols (FIG. 14). These synthetic approaches are ideally suited for combinatorial chemistry.

A variety of maleimide-derivatized e-tag groups have also been synthesized. These compounds were subsequently bioconjugated to 5′-thiol adorned DNA sequences and subjected to the 5′-nuclease assay. The species formed upon cleavage are depicted in FIG. 15.

The e-tag moiety may be assembled having an appropriate functionality at one end for linking to the binding compound. Thus for oligonucleotides, one would have a phosphoramidite or phosphate ester at the linking site to bond to an oligonucleotide chain, either 5′ or 3′, particularly after the oligonucleotide has been synthesized, while still on a solid support and before the blocking groups have been removed. While other techniques exist for linking the oligonucleotide to the e-tag moiety, such as having a functionality at the oligonucleotide terminus that specifically reacts with a functionality on the e-tag moiety, such as maleimide and thiol, or amino and carboxy, or amino and keto under reductive amination conditions, the phosphoramidite addition is preferred. For a peptide-binding compound, a variety of functionalities can be employed, much as with the oligonucleotide functionality, although phosphoramidite chemistry may only occasionally be appropriate. Thus, the functionalities normally present in a peptide, such as carboxy, amino, hydroxy and thiol may be the targets of a reactive functionality for forming a covalent bond.

Of particular interest in preparing e-tag-labeled nucleic acid binding compounds (e-tag probes) is using the solid support phosphoramidite chemistry to build the e-tag probe as part of the oligonucleotide synthesis. Using this procedure, the next succeeding phosphate is attached at the 5′ or 3′ position, usually the 5′ position of the oligonucleotide chain. The added phosphoramidite may have a natural nucleotide or an unnatural nucleotide. Instead of phosphoramidite chemistry, other types of linkers may be used, such as thio analogs, amino acid analogs, etc. Also, substituted nucleotides may be employed, where the mass-modifying moiety and/or the charge-modifying moiety may be attached to the nucleotide, or a ligand may be attached to the nucleotide. In this way, phosphoramidite links are added comprising the regions of the e-tag probe, whereby when the synthesis of the oligonucleotide chain is completed, one continues the addition of the regions of the e-tag moiety to complete the molecule. Conveniently, each of the building blocks of the different regions may be provided with a phosphoramidite or phosphate ester at one end and a blocked functionality, where the free functionality can react with a phosphoramidite, mainly a hydroxyl. By using molecules for the different regions that have a phosphoramidite at one site and a protected hydroxyl at another site, the e-tag probe can be built up until the terminal region, which does not require the protected hydroxyl.

Illustrative of the synthesis would be to employ a diol, such as an alkylene diol, polyalkylene diol, with alkylene of from 2 to 3 carbon atoms, alkylene amine or poly(alkylene amine) diol, where the alkylenes are of from 2 to 3 carbon atoms and the nitrogens are substituted, for example with blocking groups or alkyl groups of from 1-6 carbon atoms, where one diol is blocked with a conventional protecting group, such as a dimethyltrityl group. This group can serve as the mass-modifying region and with the amino groups as the charge-modifying region as well. If desired, the mass modifier can be assembled using building blocks that are joined through phosphoramidite chemistry. In this way the charge modifier can be interspersed between within the mass modifier. For example, one could prepare a series of polyethylene oxide molecules having 1, 2, 3 . . . n units. Where it is desired to introduce a number of negative charges, a small polyethylene oxide unit may be used and the mass and charge-modifying region may be built by having a plurality of the polyethylene oxide units joined by phosphate units. Alternatively, by employing a large spacer, fewer phosphate groups would be present, so that without large mass differences, large differences in mass-to-charge ratios are obtained.

The chemistry that is employed is the conventional chemistry used in oligonucleotide synthesis, where building blocks other than nucleotides are used, but the reaction is the conventional phosphoramidite chemistry and the blocking group is the conventional dimethoxytrityl group. Of course, other chemistries compatible with automated synthesizers can also be used, but there is no reason to add additional complexity to the process.

For peptides, the e-tag moieties will be linked in accordance with the chemistry of the linking group and the availability of functionalities on the peptide-binding compound. For example, with Fab′ fragments specific for a target compound, a thiol group will be available for using an active olefin, e.g. maleimide, for thioether formation. Where lysines are available, one may use activated esters capable of reacting in water, such as nitrophenyl esters or pentafluorophenyl esters, or mixed anhydrides as with carbodiimide and half-ester carbonic acid. There is ample chemistry for conjugation in the literature, so that for each specific situation, there is ample precedent in the literature for the conjugation.

For separations based on sorption, adsorption and/or absorption, the nature of the e-tag reporters to provide for differentiation can be relatively simple. By using differences in composition, such as aliphatic compounds, aromatic compounds and halo derivatives thereof, the determinations may be made with gas chromatography, with electron capture or negative ion mass spectrometry, when electronegative atoms are present. In this way hydrocarbons or halo-substituted hydrocarbons may be employed as the e-tag reporters bonded to a releasable linker. See, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,565,324 and 6,001,579, which are specifically incorporated by reference as to the relevant disclosure concerning cleavable groups and detectable groups.

E. Sets of e-tag Probes

The libraries will ordinarily have at least about 5 members, usually at least about 10 members, and may have 100 members or more, for convenience generally having about 50-75 members. Some members may be combined in a single container or be provided in individual containers, depending upon the region to which the mobility modifier is attached. The members of the library will be selected to provide clean separations in electrophoresis, when capillary electrophoresis is the analytical method. To that extent, mobilities will differ as described above, where the separations may be greater, the larger the larger the number of molecules in the band to be analyzed. Particularly, non-sieving media may be employed in the separation.

Besides the nature of the linker, mobility modifier, as already indicated, diversity can be achieved by the chemical and optical characteristics of the fluorescer, the use of energy transfer complexes, variation in the chemical nature of the linker, which affects mobility, such as folding, interaction with the solvent and ions in the solvent, and the like. As already suggested, the linker will usually be an oligomer, where the linker may be synthesized on a support or produced by cloning or expression in an appropriate host. Conveniently, polypeptides can be produced where there is only one cysteine or serine/threonine/tyrosine, aspartic/glutamic acid, or lysine/arginine/histidine, other than an end group, so that there is a unique functionality, which may be differentially functionalized. By using protective groups, a side-chain functionality may be distinguished from a terminal amino acid functionality. Also, by appropriate design, preferential reaction between the same functionalities present at different sites on the linking group may be obtained. The choice between synthesis or cloning for preparation of oligopeptides will to a substantial degree depend on the length of the linker.

Depending upon the reagent to which the e-tag moiety is attached, there may be a single e-tag group or a plurality of e-tag groups, generally ranging from about 1 to about 100, more usually ranging from about 1 to about 40, more particularly ranging from about 1 to about 20. The number of e-tag groups bonded to a single target-binding moiety will depend upon the sensitivity required, the solubility of the e-tag conjugate, the effect on the assay of a plurality of e-tag probes, and the like. For oligomers or polymers, such as nucleic acids and poly(amino acids), e.g. peptides and proteins, one may have one or a plurality of e-tag moieties, while for synthetic or naturally occurring non-oligomeric compounds, usually there will be only 1 to about 3, more usually 1 to about 2 e-tag moieties.

For 20 different e-tag reporters, only 5 different mass-modifying regions, one phosphate link and four different detectable regions are required. For 120 e-tag reporters, only 10 different mass-modifying regions, 3 different charge-modifying regions and 4 different detectable regions are needed. For 500 different e-tag reporters, only 25 different mass-modifying regions, 5 different charge-modifying regions and 4 different detectable regions are needed.

III. Methods for Use of the e-tag Reagents

The methodologies that may be employed involve heterogeneous and homogeneous techniques, where heterogeneous normally involves a separation step, where unbound label is separated from bound label, where homogeneous assays do not require, but may employ, a separation step. One group of assays will involve nucleic acid detection, which includes sequence recognition, SNP detection and scoring, transcription analysis, allele determinations, HLA determinations, or other determination associated with variations in sequence. The use of the determination may be forensic, mRNA determinations, mutation determinations, allele determinations, MHC determinations, haplotype determinations, single nucleotide polymorphism determinations, etc. The methodology may include assays dependent on 5′-nuclease activity, as in the use of the polymerase chain reaction or in Invader technology, 3′-nuclease activity, restriction enzymes, or ribonuclease H. All of these methods involving catalytic cleavage of a phosphate linkage, where one to two oligonucleotides are bound to the target template.

In addition, the subject heterogeneous assays require that the unbound labeled reagent be separable from the bound labeled reagent. This can be achieved in a variety of ways. Each way requires that a reagent bound to a solid support that distinguishes between the complex of labeled reagent and target. The solid support may be a vessel wall, e.g. microtiter well plate well, capillary, plate, slide, beads, including magnetic beads, liposomes, or the like. The primary characteristics of the solid support is that it permits segregation of the bound labeled specific binding member from unbound probe, and that the support does not interfere with the formation of the binding complex, nor the other operations of the determination.

The solid support may have the complex directly or indirectly bound to the support. For directly bound, the binding member or e-tag probe is covalently or non-covalently bound to the support. For proteins, many surfaces provide non-diffusible binding of a protein to the support, so that the protein is added to the support and the protein is allowed to bind; weakly bound protein is washed away and an innocuous protein is added to coat any actively binding areas that are still available. The surface may be activated with various functionalities that form covalent bonds with a binding member. These groups may include imino halides, activated carboxyl groups, e.g. mixed anhydrides or acyl halides, amino groups, α-halo or pseudohaloketones, etc. The specific binding member bound to the surface of the support may be any molecule that permits the binding portion of the molecule, e.g. epitope, to be available for binding by the reciprocal member. Where the binding member is polyepitopic, e.g. proteins, this is usually less of a problem, since the protein will be polyepitopic and even with random binding of the protein to the surface, the desired epitope will be available for most of the bound molecules. For smaller molecules, particularly under 5 kDal, an active functionality may be present on the specific binding member that preserves the binding site, where the active functionality reacts with a functionality on the surface of the support. The same functionalities described above may find use. Conveniently, one may use the same site for preparing the conjugate immunogen to produce antibodies as the site for the active functionality for linking to the surface.

Instead of nucleic acid pairing, one may employ specific binding member pairing. There are a large number of specific binding pairs associated with receptors, such as antibodies, poly- and monoclonal, enzymes, surface membrane receptors, lectins, etc., and ligands for the receptors, which may be naturally occurring or synthetic molecules, protein or non-protein, such as drugs, hormones, enzymes, ligands, etc. The specific binding pair has many similarities to the binding of homologous nucleic acids, significant differences being that one normally cannot cycle between the target and the agent and one does not have convenient phosphate bonds to cleave. For heterogeneous assays, the binding of the specific binding pair is employed to separate the bound from the unbound e-tag-bonded agents, while with homogeneous assays, the proximity of the specific binding pairs allow for release of the e-tag reporters from the complex. For an inclusive but not exclusive listing of the various manners in which the subject invention may be used, Tables 3 and 4 are provided.

Once the target-binding moiety conjugated with the e-tag moiety has been prepared, it may be used in a number of different assays. The samples may be processed using lysis, nucleic acid separation from proteins and lipids and vice versa, and enrichment of different fractions. For nucleic acid related determinations, the source of the DNA may be any organism, prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, tissue, environmental samples, etc. The DNA or RNA may be isolated by conventional means, RNA may be reverse transcribed, DNA may be amplified, as with PCR, primers may be used with capture ligands for use in subsequent processing, the DNA may be fragmented using restriction enzymes, specific sequences may be concentrated or removed using homologous sequences bound to a support, or the like. Proteins may be isolated using precipitation, extraction, and chromatography. The proteins may be present as individual proteins or combined in various aggregations, such as organelles, cells, viruses, etc. Once the target components have been preliminarily treated, the sample may then be combined with the e-tag reporter targeted binding proteins.

For a nucleic acid sample, after processing, the mixture of e-tag probes for the target sequences is combined with the sample under hybridization conditions, in conjunction with other reagents, as necessary. Where the reaction is heterogeneous, the target-binding sequence has a capture ligand for binding to a reciprocal binding member for sequestering hybrids to which the e-tag probe is bound. In this case, all of the DNA sample carrying the capture ligand is sequestered, both with and without e-tag reporter labeled probe. After sequestering the sample, non-specifically bound e-tag reporter labeled probe is removed under a predetermined stringency based on the probe sequence, using washing at an elevated temperature, salt concentration, organic solvent, etc. Then, the e-tag reporter is released into an electrophoretic buffer solution for analysis.

As indicated in Table 3, for amplification one may use thermal cycling. Tables 3 and 4 indicate the properties of binding assays (solution-phase e-tag reporter generation followed by separation by CE, HPLC or mass spectra) and multiplexed assays (2-1000) leading to release of a library of e-tag reporters, where every e-tag reporter codes for a unique binding event or assay.

The cleavage of the nucleic acid bound to the template results in a change in the melting temperature of the e-tag residue with release of the e-tag reporter. By appropriate choice of the primer and/or protocol, one can retain the primer bound to the template and the e-tag-containing sequence can be cleaved and released from the template to be replaced by an e-tag-containing probe.

TABLE 3 Binding and Multiplexed Assays. e-tag Reporter Formats Recognition Event Amplification Mode Release Multiplexed assays Solution hybridization PCR, Invader 5′ nuclease Sequence followed by enzyme 3′ nuclease recognition for recognition Restriction example for enzyme multiplexed gene Ribonuclease H expression, SNPs Solution hybridization Amplification due to Singlet Oxygen scoring etc . . . followed by channeling turnover of e-tag probe; (¹O₂) OR Hydrogen amplification due to Peroxide (H₂O₂) release of multiple e-tag Light, reporters (10 to 100,000) energy transfer per binding event Patches in Target captured on solid Amplification from release Light, enzyme, microfluidic surface; of multiple e-tag reporters ¹O₂, channels - e-tag probe mixture (10 to 100,000) per probe H₂O₂, Fluoride, integrated assay hybridized to target; unbound reducing agent, and separation probes removed; MS, others device e-tag reporter is released, separated and identified.

TABLE 4 Immunoassays e-tag Reporter Format Recognition Event Amplification Mode Release Proteomics Sandwich assays A few (2-10) e-tag Singlet Oxygen Multiplexed Antibody-1 decorated with reporters released per (¹O₂) Immunoassays Sensitizer while antibody-2 is binding event decorated with singlet oxygen OR cleavable e-tag groups Amplification from Competition assays release of multiple Antibody-1 decorated with e-tag reporters (10 to Sensitizer while antibody-2 is 100,000) per binding decorated with singlet oxygen event cleavable e-tag groups Sandwich assays Hydrogen Peroxide Antibody-1 decorated with (H₂O₂) Glucose oxidase while antibody-2 is decorated with hydrogen peroxide cleavable e-tag groups Competition assays Antibody-1 decorated with Glucose oxidase while antibody-2 is decorated with hydrogen peroxide cleavable e-tag groups Patches in Sandwich assays Light; Enzymes, microfluidic Antibody-1 is attached to a singlet oxygen, channels; solid surface while antibody-2 hydrogen peroxide integrated assay is decorated with cleavable e- fluoride, reducing and separation tag groups agents, mass device Competition assays spectra, others Antibody-1 is attached to a solid surface while antibody-2 is decorated with cleavable e- tag groups

The assays may be performed in a competitive mode or a sandwich mode. In the competitive mode, the target competes with a labeled binding member for the reciprocal member. The reciprocal member is bound to the support, either during the complex formation or after, e.g. where an antibody is a specific binding member and anti-immunoglobulin is the reciprocal binding member and is bound to the support. In this mode, the binding sites of the reciprocal binding member become at least partially filled by the target, reducing the number of available binding sites for the labeled reciprocal binding member. Thus, the number of labeled binding members that bind to the reciprocal binding member will be in direct proportion to the number of target molecules present. In the sandwich mode, the target is able to bind at the same time to different binding members; a first support bound member and a second member that binds at a site of the target molecule different from the site at which the support bound member binds. The resulting complex has three components, where the target serves to link the labeled binding member to the support.

In carrying out the assays, the components are combined, usually with the target composition added first and then the labeled members in the competitive mode and in any order in the sandwich mode. Usually, the labeled member in the competitive mode will be equal to at least about 50% of the highest number of target molecules anticipated, preferably at least equal and may be in about 2 to about 10 fold excess or greater. The particular ratio of target molecules to labeled molecules will depend on the binding affinities, the length of time the mixture is incubated, the off rates for the target molecule with its reciprocal binding member, the size of the sample and the like. In the case of the sandwich assays, one will have at least an equal amount of the labeled binding member to the highest expected amount of the target molecules, usually at least about 1.5 fold excess, more usually at least about 2 fold excess and may have about 10 fold excess or more. The components are combined under binding conditions, usually in an aqueous medium, generally at a pH in the range of about 5-about 10, with buffer at a concentration in the range of about 10 to about 200 mM. These conditions are conventional, where conventional buffers may be used, such as phosphate, carbonate, HEPES, MOPS, Tris, borate, etc., as well as other conventional additives, such as salts, stabilizers, organic solvents, etc.

Usually, the unbound labeled binding member or e-tag probe will be removed by washing the bound labeled binding member. Where particles or beads are employed, these may be separated from the supernatant before washing, by filtration, centrifugation, magnetic separation, etc. After washing, the support may be combined with a liquid into which the e-tag reporters are to be released and/or the functionality of the e-tag groups is reacted with the detectable label, followed by or preceded by release. Depending on the nature of the cleavable bond and the method of cleavage, the liquid may include reagents for the cleavage. Where reagents for cleavage are not required, the liquid is conveniently an electrophoretic buffer. For example, where the cleavable linkage is photo labile, the support may be irradiated with light of appropriate wavelength to release the e-tag reporters. Where detectable labels are not present on the e-tag moieties, the moieties may be reacted with detectable labels. In some instances the detectable label may be part of the reagent cleaving the cleavable bond, e.g. a disulfide with a thiol. Where there is a plurality of different functionalities on different binding members for reaction with the label, the different labels will have functionalities that react with one of the functionalities. The different labels may be added together or individually in a sequential manner. For example, where the functionalities involve thiols, carboxyl groups, aldehydes and olefins, the labels could have activated olefins, alcohols, amines and thiol groups, respectively. By having removable protective groups for one or more of the functionalities, the protective groups may be removed stepwise and the labels added stepwise. In this way cross-reactivity may be avoided. Whether one has the detectable label present initially or one adds the detectable label is not critical to this invention and will frequently be governed by the nature of the target composition, the nature of the labeled binding members, and the nature of the detectable labels. For the most part, it will be a matter of convenience as to the particular method one chooses for providing the detectable label on the e-tag reporter.

Where a reagent is necessary for cleavage, the e-tag reporters may be required to be separated from the reagent solution, where the reagent interferes with the electrophoretic analysis. Depending on the nature of the e-tag reporters and the reagent, one may sequester the e-tag reporters from the reagent by using ion exchange columns, liquid chromatography, an initial electrophoretic separation, and the like. Alternatively, as discussed previously, one may have a capture ligand bound to the e-tag moiety or retained portion of the target-binding moiety for isolating the e-tag probe, so as to remove any interfering components in the mixture. Once the solution of e-tag reporters is prepared and free of any interfering components, the solution may be analyzed electrophoretically. The analysis may employ capillary electrophoresis devices, microfluidic devices or other devices that can separate a plurality of compounds electrophoretically, providing resolved bands of the individual e-tag reporters.

The protocols for the subject homogeneous assays will follow the procedures for the analogous heterogeneous assays, which may or may not include a releasable e-tag moiety. These protocols employ a signal-producing system that includes the label on one of the binding members, the cleavable bond associated with the e-tag probe, electromagnetic radiation or other reagents involved in the reaction or for diminishing background signal. In assays involving the production of hydrogen peroxide, one may wish to have a molecule in solution that degrades hydrogen peroxide to prevent reaction between hydrogen peroxide produced by a label bound to an analyte molecule and an e-tag-labeled binding member that is not bound to the same analyte molecule.

Generally, the concentrations of the various agents involved with the signal producing system will vary with the concentration range of the individual analytes in the samples to be analyzed, generally being in the range of about 10 nM to about 10 mM. Buffers will ordinarily be employed at a concentration in the range of about 10 to about 200 mM. The concentration of each analyte will generally be in the range of about 1 pM to about 100 μM, more usually in the range of about 100 pM to about 10 μM. In specific situations the concentrations may be higher or lower, depending on the nature of the analyte, the affinity of the reciprocal binding members, the efficiency of release of the e-tag reporters, the sensitivity with which the e-tag reporters are detected, and the number of analytes, as well as other considerations.

The reactive species that is produced in the assay, analogous to the subject assay, is employed in a different way than was used in the analogous assay, but otherwise the conditions will be comparable. In many instances, the chemiluminescent compound when activated will result in cleavage of a bond, so that one may obtain release of the e-tag reporter. Assays that find use are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,233,402, 5,616,719, 5,807,675, and 6,002,000. One would combine the analyte with one or both reagents. The particular order of addition will vary with the nature of the reagents. Generally, the binding reagents and the sample are combined and the mixture is allowed to incubate, generally at least about 5 min, more usually at least about 15 min, before irradiating the mixture or adding the remaining reagents.

The subject libraries of e-tag reagents may be used to analyze the effect of an agent on a plurality of different compounds. For example, a plurality of substrates labeled with an e-tag moiety may be prepared, where the enzyme catalyzes a reaction resulting in a change in mobility between the product and the starting material. These assays can find use in determining affinity groups or preferred substrates for hydrolases, oxidoreductases, lyases, etc. For example, with kinases and phosphatases, a charged group is added or removed so as to change the mobility of the product. By preparing a plurality of alcohols or phosphate esters, a determination may be made concerning which of the compounds serves as a substrate. By labeling the substrates with e-tag moieties, the shift from the substrate to the product can be observed as evidence of the activity of a candidate substrate with the enzyme. By preparing compounds as suicide inhibitors, the enzymes may be sequestered and the e-tag reporters released to define those compounds that may serve as suicide inhibitors and, therefore, preferentially bind to the active site of the enzyme.

The subject methods may be used for screening for the activity of one or more candidate compounds, particularly drugs, for their activity against a battery of enzymes. In this situation, active substrates for each of the enzymes to be evaluated may be used, where each of the substrates has its own e-tag probe. For those enzymes for which the drug is an inhibitor, the amount of product is diminished in relation to the amount of product in the absence of the candidate compound. In each case the product has a different mobility from the substrate, so that the substrates and products can be readily distinguished by electrophoresis. By appropriate choice of substrates and detectable labels, electropherograms may be obtained showing the effect of the candidate compound on the activity of the different enzymes.

In determinations involving nucleic acids, since SNP detection is, for the most part, the most stringent in its requirements, most of the description is directed toward the multiplexed detection of SNPs by way of example and not limitation. For other nucleic acid analyses, frequently the protocols will be substantially the same, although in some instances somewhat different protocols are employed for SNPs, because of the greater demands SNPs make on fidelity. For proteins, the protocols are substantially different and are described independently of the SNP protocols.

A. Primer Extension Reaction in Nucleic Acid Analyses

The extension reaction is performed by bringing together the necessary combination of reagents, then subjecting the mixture to conditions for carrying out the desired primer extension. Such conditions depend on the nature of the extension, e.g., PCR, single primer amplification, LCR, NASBA, 3SR and so forth, where the enzyme that is used for the extension has 5′-3′ nuclease activity. The extension reaction may be carried out as to both strands or as to only a single strand. Where pairs of primer and SNP detection sequence are used for both strands, conveniently, the e-tag moiety is the same but the bases are different. In this situation, a cleavable linkage to the base is employed, so that for the same SNP, the same e-tag reporter is obtained. Alternatively, if the number of SNPs to be determined is not too high, different e-tag moieties can be used for each of the strands. Usually, the reaction is carried out by using amplifying conditions, so as to provide an amplified signal for each SNP. Amplification conditions normally employ thermal cycling, where after the primer extension and release of electrophoretic tag reporters associated with SNPs which are present, the mixture is heated to denature the double-stranded DNA, cooled, where the primer and SNP detection sequence can rehybridize and the extension be repeated.

Reagents for conducting the primer extension are substantially the same reaction materials for carrying out an amplification, such as an amplification indicated above. The nature and amounts of these reagents are dependent on the type of amplification conducted. In addition to oligonucleotide primers, the reagents also comprise nucleoside triphosphates and a nucleotide polymerase having 5′-3′ nuclease activity.

The nucleoside triphosphates employed as reagents in an amplification reaction include deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates such as the four common deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates dATP, dCTP, dGTP and dTTP. The term “nucleoside triphosphates” also includes derivatives and analogs thereof, which are exemplified by those derivatives that are recognized and polymerized in a similar manner to the underivatized nucleoside triphosphates.

The nucleotide polymerase employed is a catalyst, usually an enzyme, for forming an extension of an oligonucleotide primer along a polynucleotide such as a DNA template, where the extension is complementary thereto. The nucleotide polymerase is a template dependent polynucleotide polymerase and utilizes nucleoside triphosphates as building blocks for extending the 3′-end of a polynucleotide to provide a sequence complementary with the polynucleotide template. Usually, the catalysts are enzymes, such as DNA polymerases, for example, prokaryotic DNA polymerase (I, II, or III), T4 DNA polymerase, T7 DNA polymerase, Vent DNA polymerase, Pfu DNA polymerase, Taq DNA polymerase, and the like. Polymerase enzymes may be derived from any source, such as eukaryotic or prokaryotic cells, bacteria such as E. coli, plants, animals, virus, thermophilic bacteria, genetically modified enzymes, and so forth.

The conditions for the various amplification procedures are well known to those skilled in the art. In a number of amplification procedures, thermal cycling conditions as discussed above are employed to amplify the polynucleotides. The combination of reagents is subjected to conditions under which the oligonucleotide primer hybridizes to the priming sequence of, and is extended along, the corresponding polynucleotide. The exact temperatures can be varied depending on the salt concentration, pH, solvents used, length of and composition of the target polynucleotide sequence and the oligonucleotide primers.

Thermal cycling conditions are employed for conducting an amplification involving temperature or thermal cycling and primer extension such as in PCR or single primer amplification, and the like. The pH and the temperature are selected so as to cause, either simultaneously or sequentially, dissociation of any internally hybridized sequences, hybridization or annealing of the oligonucleotide primer and SNP detection sequence with the target polynucleotide sequence, extension of the primer, release of the e-tag reporter from SNP detection sequence bound to the target polynucleotide sequence, and dissociation of the extended primer. This usually involves cycling the reaction medium between two or more temperatures. In conducting such a method, the medium is cycled between two to three temperatures. The temperatures for thermal cycling generally range from about 50° C. to 100° C., more usually from about 60° C. to 95° C. Relatively low temperatures of from about 30° C. to about 65° C. can be employed for the extension steps, while denaturation and hybridization can be carried out at a temperature of from about 50° C. to about 105° C. The reaction medium is initially at about 20° C. to about 45° C., preferably, about 25° C. to about 35° C. Relatively low temperatures of from about 50° C. to about 80° C., preferably, 50° C. to about 60° C., are employed for the hybridization or annealing steps, while denaturation is carried out at a temperature of from about 80° C. to about 100° C., preferably, 90° C. to about 95° C., and extension is carried out at a temperature of from about 70° C. to about 80° C., usually about 72° C. to about 74° C. The duration of each cycle may vary and is usually about 1 to 120 seconds, preferably, about 5 to 60 seconds for the denaturation steps, and usually about 1 to 15 seconds, preferably, about 1 to 5 seconds, for the extension steps. It is to be understood that the actual temperature and duration of the cycles employed are dependent on the particular amplification conducted and are well within the knowledge of those skilled in the art.

Generally, an aqueous medium is employed. Other polar co-solvents may also be employed, usually oxygenated organic solvents of from 1-6, more usually from 14, carbon atoms, including alcohols, ethers, formamide and the like. Usually, these co-solvents, if used, are present in less than about 70 weight percent, more usually in less than about 30 weight percent.

The pH for the medium is usually in the range of about 4.5 to 9.5, more usually in the range of about 5.5 to 8.5, and preferably in the range of about 6 to 8. Various buffers may be used to achieve the desired pH and maintain the pH during the determination. Illustrative buffers include borate, phosphate, carbonate, Tris, barbital and the like. The particular buffer employed is not critical to this invention but in individual methods one buffer may be preferred over another. The medium may also contain materials required for enzyme activity such as a divalent metal ion (usually magnesium).

Various ancillary materials will frequently be employed in the methods in accordance with the present invention. For example, in addition to buffers and salts, the medium may also comprise stabilizers for the medium and the reaction components. Frequently, the medium may also include proteins such as albumins, quaternary ammonium salts, polycations such as spermine, surfactants, particularly non-ionic surfactants, binding enhancers, e.g., polyalkylene glycols, or the like.

The reaction is conducted for a time sufficient to produce the desired number of copies of each of the polynucleotides suspected of being present as discussed below. Generally, the time period for conducting the entire method will be from about 10 to 200 minutes. As mentioned above, it is usually desirable to minimize the time period.

The concentration of the nucleotide polymerase is usually determined empirically. Preferably, a concentration is used that is sufficient such that the amplification is robust. The primary limiting factor generally is the cost of the reagent. Such enzymes include Pfu DNA polymerase (native and recombinant) from Stratagene, La Jolla, Calif., UlTma DNA polymerase from Perkin Elmer, Foster City, Calif., rBst DNA polymerase from Epicentre Technologies, Madison, Wis., Vent DNA polymerase from New England Biolabs, Beverly, Mass., Tli DNA polymerase from Promega Corp., Madison, Wis., and Pwo DNA polymerase from Boehringer Mannheim, Indianapolis, Ind., and the like.

The initial concentration of each of the polynucleotides containing the respective target-binding moiety for the target SNPs can be as low as about 50 pg/μL in a sample. After amplification the concentration of each polynucleotide should be at least about 10 pM, generally in the range of about 10 pM to about 10 nM, usually from about 10 to about 10¹⁰, more usually from about 10³ to about 10⁸ molecules in a sample, preferably at least about 10⁻²¹ M in the sample and may be about 10⁻¹⁰ to about 10⁻¹⁹ M, more usually about 10⁻¹⁴ to about 10⁻¹⁹ M. In general, the reagents for the reaction are provided in amounts to achieve extension of the oligonucleotide primers.

The concentration of the oligonucleotide primer(s) will be about 1 to about 20 μM and is usually about 1 to about 10 μM, preferably, about 1 to about 4 μM, for a sample size that is about 10 fM. Preferably, the concentration of the oligonucleotide primer(s) is substantially in excess over, preferably at least about 10⁷ to about 10¹⁰ times greater than, more preferably, at least about 10⁹ times greater than, the concentration of the corresponding target polynucleotides.

The amount of the oligonucleotide probes will be 10 to about 500 nM and is usually about 50 to about 200 nM for a sample size that is about 10 fM. Preferably, the concentration of the oligonucleotide probes is substantially in excess over, preferably at least about 10⁷ times greater than, more preferably, at least about 10⁸ times greater than, the concentration of each of the target polynucleotides.

The concentration of the nucleoside triphosphates in the medium can vary widely; preferably, these reagents are present in an excess amount. The nucleoside triphosphates are usually present in about 10 μM to about 1 mM, preferably, about 20 to about 400 μM.

The order of combining of the various reagents to form the combination may vary. Usually, the sample containing the polynucleotides is combined with a pre-prepared combination of nucleoside triphosphates and nucleotide polymerase. The oligonucleotide primers and the SNP detection sequences may be included in the prepared combination or may be added subsequently. However, simultaneous addition of all of the above, as well as other step-wise or sequential orders of addition, may be employed provided that all of the reagents described above are combined prior to the start of the reactions. The oligonucleotide pairs may be added to the combination of the reagents at or prior to initiation of the primer extension reaction and may be replenished from time-to-time during the primer extension reaction.

For quantitation, one may choose to use controls, which provide a signal in relation to the amount of the target that is present or is introduced. Where one is dealing with a mixture of nucleic acid molecules, as in the case of mRNA in a lysate, one may use the known amounts of one or more different mRNA's in the particular cell types as the standards. Desirably, one would have at least two controls, preferably at least 3 controls, where the variation in number between any two controls is at least about 10², and the total range is at least about 10³, usually at least about 10⁴. However, determining the consistent ratio of mynas occurring naturally may result in a large margin of error, so that one would usually rely on synthetic targets as the control. Where a control system is added for quantitation, as compared to relying on the presence of a known amount of a plurality of endogenous nucleic acids, the control system will comprise at least two control sequences, usually at least 3 control sequences and generally not more than about 6 control sequences, where the upper limit is primarily one of convenience and economy, since additional control sequences will usually not add significant additional precision. The control sequences will usually be at least about 50 nucleotides, more usually at least about 100 nucleotides. The control sequences will have a common primer sequence and different control detection sequences, which are intended to parallel the primer sequence and SNP detection sequence in size, spacing and response to the primer extension conditions. In carrying out the primer extension reaction with sample nucleic acid, one would then add different number of molecules of the different control sequences, so that one could graph the result to give a signal/number relationship. This graph could then be used to relate signals observed with target molecules to the number of molecules present.

As exemplary of the subject invention, four target polynucleotides T1, T2, T3 and T4 are employed. Oligonucleotide primers PR1, PR2, PR3 and PR4 are employed, each respectively capable of hybridizing to a sequence in the respective target polynucleotides. Also employed are four oligonucleotide SNP detection sequences, PB1, PB2, PB3 and PB4. Each of the SNP detection sequences comprises a fluorescent label F1, F2, F3 and F4, respectively. In this example, there is a mismatch between PB2 and T2, which comprises a single nucleotide polymorphism. The reaction medium comprising the above reagents and nucleoside triphosphates and a template dependent polynucleotide polymerase having 5′ to 3′ exonuclease activity is treated under amplification conditions. Primers PR1, PR2, PR3 and PR4 hybridize to their respective target polynucleotides and are extended to yield extended primers EPR1, EPR2, EPR3 and EPR4. SNP detection sequences PB1, PB3 and PB4, which hybridize with their respective target polynucleotides, are acted upon by the exonuclease to cleave a single nucleotide bearing the respective fluorescent label. PB2, which does not bind to the target polynucleotide, is not cleaved. Cleaved fragments F1, F3 and F4 are injected into a separation channel in a chip for conducting electroseparation. The labels are identified by their specific mobility and fluorescence upon irradiation. The separated labels are related to the presence and amount of the respective target polynucleotide.

The selection of the SNP detection or other target binding sequence will affect the stringency employed during the primer extension, particularly at the stage of hybridization. Since in a substantial number of samples, the DNA will be heterozygous for SNPs, rather than homozygous, one does not wish to have false positives, where the SNP detection sequence may bond to the sequence comprising the prevalent nucleotide, as well as the sequence comprising the SNP. Where the DNA sample is homozygous for the prevalent sequence, it is also important that the target binding sequence does not bind to give a false positive. Therefore, the difference in T_(m) between the target containing sequence and the wild-type sequence will usually be at least about 3° C., more usually at least about 5° C., under the conditions of the primer extension.

In one exemplary protocol, the tagged SNP detection sequence will be chosen to bind to the target sequence comprising the SNP. The length of the SNP detector sequence is in part related to the length and binding affinity of the primer. The two sequences act together to ensure that the pair of reagents bind to the proper target sequence. The greater the fidelity of binding of one member of the pair, the less fidelity that is required for the other member of the pair. Since the observed signal will be dependent upon both members of the pair being present, each member serves as a check on the other member for production of the signal. However, since except for the cost, it is relatively easy to make reasonably long oligonucleotides, usually both members of the pair will uniquely hybridize to their respective target sequences. Therefore, the length of the SNP detector sequence will come within the parameters indicated for the primer, but the total number of bases for the two pair members will usually be at least 36, more usually at least about 40.

Depending on the protocol, an e-tag reporter will be separated from a portion or substantially all of the detection sequence, usually retaining not more than about 3 nucleotides, more usually not more than about 2 nucleotides and preferably from 0 to 1 nucleotide. By having a cleavable linker between the e-tag moiety and the detection sequence, the e-tag reporter may be freed of all the nucleotides. By having a nuclease-resistant penultimate link, a single nucleotide may be bonded to the e-tag reporter.

Each SNP detection sequence will have at least one nucleotide modified with an electrophoretic tag, which is fluorescent or can be subsequently made fluorescent, or can be detected electrochemically or by other convenient detection methodologies. Usually, the modified nucleotide will be at the 5′-end of the sequence, but the modified nucleotide may be anywhere in the sequence, particularly where there is a single nuclease susceptible linkage in the detection sequence. Since the determination is based on at least partial degradation of he SNP detector sequence, having the modified nucleotide at the end ensures that if degradation occurs, the electrophoretic tag will be released. Since nucleases may clip at other than the terminal phosphate link, it is desirable to prevent cleavage at other than the terminal phosphate link. In this way the confusion of having the same electrophoretic tag joined to different numbers of nucleotides after cleavage is avoided. Cleavage at the terminal phosphate can be relatively assured by using a linker that is not cleaved by the nuclease, more particularly having only the ultimate linkage susceptible to hydrolysis by a nuclease. For example, a thiophosphate, phosphinate, phosphoramidate, or a linker other than a phosphorous acid derivative, such as an amide, boronate, or the like, may be used. The particular hydrolase resistive linker will be primarily one of synthetic convenience, so long as degradation of the binding affinity is not sacrificed. If desired, all of the linkers other than the ultimate linker may be resistant to nuclease hydrolysis.

One, usually a plurality, of SNPs, is simultaneously determined by combining target DNA with one or a plurality, respectively, of reagent pairs under conditions of primer extension. Each pair of reagents includes a primer which binds to target DNA and a SNP detection sequence, normally labeled, which binds to the site of the SNP and has an e-tag moiety, usually at its 5′-end and the base complementary to the SNP, usually at other than a terminus of the SNP detection sequence. The conditions of primer extension employ a polymerase having 5′-3′ exonuclease activity, dNTP's and auxiliary reagents to permit efficient primer extension. The primer extension is performed, whereby detector sequences bound to the target DNA are degraded with release of the e-tag reporter. By having each SNP associated with its own e-tag reporter, one can determine the SNPs, which are present in the target DNA for which pairs of reagents have been provided.

The pairs of reagents are DNA sequences that are related to a SNP site. The primer binds to the target DNA upstream from the SNP site in the direction of extension. The labeled detector sequence binds downstream from the primer in the direction of extension and binds to a sequence, which includes the SNP. The primer sequence will usually be at least about 12 bases long, more usually at least 18 bases long and usually fewer than 100 bases, and more usually fewer than 60 bases. The primer will be chosen to bind substantially uniquely to a target sequence under the conditions of primer extension, so that the sequence will normally be one that is conserved or the primer is long enough to bind in the presence of a few mismatches, usually fewer than about 10 number % mismatches. By knowing the sequence, which is upstream from the SNP of interest, one may select a sequence, which has a high G-C ratio, so as to have a high binding affinity for the target sequence. In addition, the primer should bind reasonably close to the SNP, usually not more than about 200 bases away, more usually not more than about 100 bases away, and preferably within about 50 bases. Since the farther away the primer is from the SNP, the greater amount of dNTPs that will be expended, there will usually be no advantage in having a significant distance between the primer and the SNP detection sequence. Generally, the primer will be at least about 5 bases away from the SNP.

The complementary base to the SNP may be anywhere in the detector sequence, desirably at other than the terminal nucleoside to enhance the fidelity of binding. The SNP detector sequence will be designed to include adjacent nucleotides, which provide the desired affinity for the hybridization conditions. The SNP detection sequence may be synthesized by any convenient means, such as described in Matthews, et al., Anal. Biochem. (1988) 169:1-25; Keller, et al., “DNA Probes,” 2^(nd) edition (1993) Stockton Press, New York, N.Y.; and Wetmur, Critical Reviews in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (1991) 26:227-259.

The number of reagent pairs may be varied widely, from a single pair to two or more pairs, usually at least about 5 pairs, more usually at least about 9 pairs and may be 20 pairs or more. By virtue of the use of different e-tag moieties, which have different mobilities and are readily resolvable under conventional capillary electrophoretic conditions, the subject pairs may be used to perform multiplexed operations in a single vessel, where a family of SNPs may be identified. Usually, the total number of different reagent pairs or different target sequences in a single determination will be under 200, more usually under 100 and in many cases will not exceed 50.

B. The Invader™ Reaction in Nucleic Acid Analyses

In one SNP determination protocol, the primer includes the complementary base of the SNP. This protocol is referred to as Invader™ technology, and is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,001,567. The protocol involves providing: (a) (i) a cleavage means, which is normally an enzyme, referred to as a cleavase, that recognizes a triplex consisting of the target sequence, a primer which binds to the target sequence and terminates at the SNP position and a labeled probe that binds immediately adjacent to the primer and is displaced from the target at the SNP position, when a SNP is present. The cleavase clips the labeled probe at the site of displacement, releasing the label, (ii) a source of target nucleic acid, the target nucleic acid having a first region, a second region and a third region, wherein the first region is downstream from the second region and the second region is contiguous to and downstream from the third region, and (iii) first and second oligonucleotides having 3′ and 5′ portions, wherein the 3′ portion of the first oligonucleotide contains a sequence complementary to the third region of the target nucleic acid and the 5′ portion of the first oligonucleotide and the 3′ portion of the second oligonucleotide each contain sequences usually fully complementary to the second region of the target nucleic acid, and the 5′ portion of the second oligonucleotide contains sequence complementary to the first region of said target nucleic acid; (b) mixing, in any order, the cleavage means, the target nucleic acid, and the first and second oligonucleotides under hybridization conditions that at least the 3′ portion of the first oligonucleotide is annealed to the target nucleic acid and at least the 5′ portion of the second oligonucleotide is annealed to any target nucleic acid to from a cleavage structure, where the combined melting temperature of the complementary regions within the 5′ and 3′ portions of the first oligonucleotide when annealed to the target nucleic acid is greater than the melting temperature of the 3′ portion of the first oligonucleotide and cleavage of the cleavage structure occurs to generate labeled products; and (c) detecting the labeled cleavage products.

Thus, in an Invader assay, attachment of an e-tag moiety to the 5′ end of the detector sequence results in the formation of an e-tag-labeled nucleotide when the target sequence is present. The e-tag-labeled nucleotide is separated and detected. By having a different e-tag reporter for each nucleic acid sequence of interest, each having a different electrophoretic mobility, one can readily determine the SNPs or measure multiple sequences, which are present in a sample. The e-tag groups may require further treatment, depending on the total number of SNPs or target sequences being detected.

C. Fluorescent Quenching

If desired, the SNP detection e-tag probe may have a combination of a quencher and a fluorescer. In this instance the fluorescer would be in proximity to the nucleoside to which the linker is bonded, as well as the quencher, so that in the primer extension mixture, fluorescence from fluorescer bound to the SNP detection sequence would be quenched. As the reaction proceeds and fluorescer is released from the SNP detection sequence and, therefore, removed from the quencher, it would then be capable of fluorescence. By monitoring the primer extension mixture for fluorescence, a determination may be made as to determine when there would probably be a sufficient amount of individual e-tag reporters to provide a detectable signal for analysis. In this way, time and reagent may be saved by terminating the primer extension reaction at the appropriate time. There are many quenchers that are not fluorescers, so as to minimize fluorescent background from the SNP detection sequence. Alternatively, one could take small aliquots and monitor the reaction for detectable e-tag reporters.

D. Analysis of Reaction Products

The separation of the e-tag reporters by electrophoresis can be performed in conventional ways. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,750,015, 5,866,345, 5,935,401, 6,103,199, and 6,110,343, and WO98/5269, and references cited therein. Also, the sample can be prepared for mass spectrometry in conventional ways. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,965,363, 6,043,031, 6,057,543, and 6,111,251.

After completion of the primer extension reaction, either by monitoring the change in fluorescence as described above or taking aliquots and assaying for total free e-tag reporters, the mixture may now be analyzed. Depending on current instrument, from one to four different fluorescers activated by the same light source and emitting at different detectable labels may be used. With improvements, five or more different fluorescers will be available, where an additional light source may be required. Electrochemical detection is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,045,676.

The presence of each of the cleaved e-tag reporters is determined by the label. The separation of the mixture of labeled e-tag reporters is typically carried out by electroseparation, which involves the separation of components in a liquid by application of an electric field, preferably, by electrokinesis (electrokinetic flow) electrophoretic flow, or electroosmotic flow, or combinations thereof, with the separation of the e-tag reporter mixture into individual fractions or bands. Electroseparation involves the migration and separation of molecules in an electric field based on differences in mobility. Various forms of electroseparation include, by way of example and not limitation, free zone electrophoresis, gel electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing and isotachophoresis. Capillary electroseparation involves electroseparation, preferably by electrokinetic flow, including electrophoretic, dielectrophoretic and/or electroosmotic flow, conducted in a tube or channel of about 1-200 micrometer, usually, about 10-100 micrometers cross-sectional dimensions. The capillary may be a long independent capillary tube or a channel in a wafer or film comprised of silicon, quartz, glass or plastic.

In capillary electroseparation, an aliquot of the reaction mixture containing the e-tag products is subjected to electroseparation by introducing the aliquot into an electroseparation channel that may be part of, or linked to, a capillary device in which the amplification and other reactions are performed. An electric potential is then applied to the electrically conductive medium contained within the channel to effectuate migration of the components within the combination. Generally, the electric potential applied is sufficient to achieve electroseparation of the desired components according to practices well known in the art. One skilled in the art will be capable of determining the suitable electric potentials for a given set of reagents used in the present invention and/or the nature of the cleaved labels, the nature of the reaction medium and so forth. The parameters for the electroseparation including those for the medium and the electric potential are usually optimized to achieve maximum separation of the desired components. This may be achieved empirically and is well within the purview of the skilled artisan.

For a homogeneous assay, the sample, e-tag-labeled probe mixture, and ancillary reagents are combined in a reaction mixture supporting the cleavage of the linking region. The mixture may be processed to separate the e-tag reporters from the other components of the mixture. The mixture, with or without e-tag reporter enrichment, may then be transferred to an electrophoresis device, usually a microfluidic or capillary electrophoresis device and the medium modified as required for the electrophoretic separation. Where it is desired to remove from the separation channel intact e-tag reporter molecules, an interactive functionality may be employed as described above.

Capillary devices are known for carrying out amplification reactions such as PCR. See, for example, Analytical Chemistry (1996) 68:4081-4086. Devices are also known that provide functional integration of PCR amplification and capillary electrophoresis in a microfabricated DNA analysis device. One such device is described by Woolley, et al., in Anal. Chem. (1996) 68:4081-4086. The device provides a microfabricated silicon PCR reactor and glass capillary electrophoresis chips. In the device a PCR chamber and a capillary electrophoresis chip are directly linked through a photolithographically fabricated channel filled with a sieving matrix such as hydroxyethylcellulose. Electrophoretic injection directly from the PCR chamber through the cross injection channel is used as an “electrophoretic valve” to couple the PCR and capillary electrophoresis devices on a chip.

The capillary electrophoresis chip contains a sufficient number of main or secondary electrophoretic channels to receive the desired number of aliquots from the PCR reaction medium or the solutions containing the cleaved labels, etc., at the intervals chosen.

For capillary electrophoresis one or more detection zones may be employed to detect the separated cleaved labels. It is, of course, within the purview of the present invention to utilize several detection zones depending on the nature of the amplification process, the number of cycles for which a measurement is to be made and so forth. There may be any number of detection zones associated with a single channel or with multiple channels. Suitable detectors for use in the detection zones include, by way of example, photomultiplier tubes, photodiodes, photodiode arrays, avalanche photodiodes, linear and array charge coupled device (CCD) chips, CCD camera modules, spectrofluorometers, and the like. Excitation sources include, for example, filtered lamps, LED's, laser diodes, gas, liquid and solid-state lasers, and so forth. The detection may be laser scanned excitation, CCD camera detection, coaxial fiber optics, confocal back or forward fluorescence detection in single or array configurations, and the like.

Detection may be by any of the known methods associated with the analysis of capillary electrophoresis columns including the methods shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,560,811 (column 11, lines 19-30), U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,675,300, 4,274,240 and 5,324,401, the relevant disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Those skilled in the electrophoresis arts will recognize a wide range of electric potentials or field strengths may be used, for example, fields of 10 to 1000 V/cm are used with 200-600 V/cm being more typical. The upper voltage limit for commercial systems is 30 kV, with a capillary length of 40-60 cm, giving a maximum field of about 600 V/cm. For DNA, typically the capillary is coated to reduce electroosmotic flow, and the injection end of the capillary is maintained at a negative potential.

For ease of detection, the entire apparatus may be fabricated from a plastic material that is optically transparent, which generally allows light of wavelengths ranging from 180 to 1500 nm, usually 220 to 800 nm, more usually 450 to 700 nm, to have low transmission losses. Suitable materials include fused silica, plastics, quartz, glass, and so forth.

IV. Systems for Use of the e-tag Reagents

One embodiment of a system according to the present invention is presented in FIG. 16. This figure illustrates a system 100 for the simultaneous, multiplexed determination of a plurality of events. Each event is distinguished from the others by electrophoresis. For example, a SNP locus may be characterized using a pair of reagents, each specific for one allele of the locus. Each reagent is bonded to an e-tag moiety with a unique electrophoretic mobility and an associated label. When the reagent is combined with a sample of interest in a reaction vessel 101, the associated e-tag probe is modified in a manner that changes its electrophoretic mobility if its specific target is present. After the reaction, the mixture is moved 102 onto an electrophoretic device 103 for separation of the e-tag reporter products contained in the mixture. A power control box 104 is used in conjunction with the device to control injection of the sample into the separation channel 105. Each e-tag reporter species migrates down the separation channel of the device with a mobility unique to that tag, moving past a detector 106 that monitors its presence by its associated label. The data collected by the detector is sent to a data processor 107, which determines the presence of each SNP allele in the sample based on the mobility of its corresponding e-tag reporter.

In another example, a group of SNP loci or other sequences may be monitored in a multiplexed reaction. In this case, a plurality of pairs of e-tag reagents corresponding to the target sequences are combined with a sample in a single reaction vessel under conditions where the e-tag reporter is released from at least a portion of the target oligonucleotide sequence to which it is bonded when a pair is bonded to its target. The e-tag reporters are either labeled for detection or the label is added by means of a reactive functionality present on the e-tag moiety. The labeled e-tag products of the reaction are resolved from one another on the electrophoretic device, and again are monitored as they move past the detector. The level of multiplexing possible in this system is limited only by the degree of resolution that can be obtained between a designated set of e-tag reporters on the electrophoretic device.

An additional degree of flexibility can be conferred on the assay by the stage at which the e-tag reporters are labeled. As described above, each e-tag moiety may already contain a detectable label when introduced into the reaction. Alternatively, an e-tag moiety may contain a functionality allowing it to bind to a label after reaction with the sample is complete (FIG. 16; 108). In this embodiment, an e-tag probe comprising a functionality for binding to a detectable label is combined with a sample (FIG. 16; 101). After a reaction to modify the mobility of the e-tag probe if its target is present in the sample, additional reagents are combined in a sample vessel (FIG. 16; 109) with the products of the first reaction, which will react with the modified e-tag reporter(s) to add a detectable label.

V. Kits for Use of the e-tag Reagents

As a matter of convenience, predetermined amounts of reagents employed in the present invention can be provided in a kit in packaged combination. One exemplary kit for SNP detection can comprise in packaged combination an oligonucleotide primer for each polynucleotide suspected of being in said set wherein each of said primers is hybridizable to a first sequence of a respective polynucleotide if present, a template dependent polynucleotide polymerase, nucleoside triphosphates, and a set of primer and oligonucleotide SNP detection sequences, each of the SNP detection sequences having a fluorescent label at its 5′-end and having a sequence at its 5′-end that is hybridizable to a respective polynucleotide wherein each of the electrophoretic labels is cleavable from the SNP detection sequence.

The kit may further comprise a device for conducting capillary electrophoresis as well as a template dependent polynucleotide polymerase having 5′ to 3′ exonuclease activity. The kit can further include various buffered media, some of which may contain one or more of the above reagents.

The relative amounts of the various reagents in the kits can be varied widely to provide for concentrations of the reagents necessary to achieve the objects of the present invention. Under appropriate circumstances one or more of the reagents in the kit can be provided as a dry powder, usually lyophilized, including excipients, which on dissolution will provide for a reagent solution having the appropriate concentrations for performing a method or assay in accordance with the present invention. Each reagent can be packaged in separate containers or some reagents can be combined in one container where cross-reactivity and shelf life permit. For example, the dNTPs, the oligonucleotide pairs, optionally the polymerase, may be included in a single container, which may also include an appropriate amount of buffer. The kits may also include a written description of a method in accordance with the present invention as described above.

In one embodiment of the kit, the electrophoretic tags are fluorescent conjugates represented by the formula: D-L(-Z)_(v)-T^(a) wherein D is a fluorescer, L is a linking group, Z is an organic moiety comprising interactive functionalities, as described previously, v is 1 to about 10, or about 2 to about 8, or about 3 to about 6, and T^(a) is a functionality for binding to a nucleoside base, purine or pyrimidine, or a nucleoside base, a nucleoside, nucleotide or nucleotide triphosphate.

In another embodiment of a kit, the electrophoretic tags are fluorescent conjugates represented by the formula: D′-L′(-Z′)_(v′)-T^(b) wherein D′ is a fluorescer, L′ is a bond an amino acid or a peptide or combinations of amino acids and thioacids or other carboxylic acids, Z′ is an organic moiety comprising interactive functionalities as described above, v′ is 1 to about 10, or about 2 to about 8, or about 3 to about 6, and T^(b) is a nucleotide or nucleotide triphosphate

In another embodiment of a kit, the electrophoretic tag is a fluorescent conjugate represented by the formula: Fluorescer-L″-(amino acid)_(n)(-Z″)_(v″)-T^(c) wherein L″ is a bond or a linking group of from 1 to 20 atoms in the chain and n is 1 to 100 and Z″ is an organic moiety comprising interactive functionalities as described above, v″ is 1 to about 10, or about 2 to about 8, or about 3 to about 6. The fluorescer may be fluorescein, the amino acid may be lysine and L″ may be a bond in the form of an amide linkage involving the meta-carboxyl of the fluorescein and the terminal amine group of lysine, and T^(c) is the OH of the carboxyl of the last amino acid, a moiety of from 0 to 6 carbon atoms for linking the carboxy to a nucleoside, nucleotide or nucleotide triphosphate.

In another embodiment of a kit in accordance with the invention, the electrophoretic tag is a label conjugate represented by the formula: Fluorescein-(CO)NH—CH(CH₂)₃CH(NH₂)COX wherein X is selected from the group consisting of: OH, NH-lysine, NH-(lysine)₂, NH-alanine, NH-aspartic acid, NH-(aspartic acid)₂, NH-(aspartic acid)₃, NH-(aspartic acid)₄, NH-(aspartic acid)₅, NH-(aspartic acid)₆, NH-(aspartic acid)₇, NH-alanine-lysine, NH-aspartic acid-lysine, NH-(aspartic acid)₂-lysine, NH-(aspartic acid)₃-lysine, NH-(aspartic acid)₄-lysine, NH-(aspartic acid)₅-lysine, NH-(aspartic acid)₆-lysine, NH-(aspartic acid)₇-lysine, NH-(aspartic acid)₈-lysine, NH-(lysine)₄, and NH-(lysine)₅. The terminal carboxy may be linked to T^(c).

The e-tag moieties described above may terminate in an appropriate functionality for linking to a nucleotide, nucleotide triphosphate, or other molecule of interest, or may terminate in such moieties.

In one embodiment of the invention the kit is useful for detecting the presence and/or amount of each of a plurality of target molecules. The kit comprises in packaged combination (a) first binding agent capable of binding to a first binding site on said target molecules, and (b) a plurality of second binding agents. Each of the second binding agents is capable of target-specific binding to a second binding site on a selected target. Each of the second binding agents has a unique cleavable reporter group and an interactive functionality adjacent the reporter group positioned in the second binding agent such that the interactive functionalities do not form part of the reporter group upon release thereof. The cleavable reporter group in each second binding agent includes (i) a cleavable moiety that is susceptible to cleavage, and (ii) an electrophoretic tag having a detectable reporter moiety and a unique electrophoretic mobility, which allows the tag to be uniquely identified among all other tags associated with the plural binding agents. The organic moiety comprising interactive functionalities is effective in isolating the signal produced by released reporter groups from the signal produced by intact second binding agents and other fragments thereof.

The kit may also comprise building blocks for preparation of e-tag probes in situ or have assembled e-tag moieties for direct bonding to the binding compound. For preparing the e-tag probes in situ during the synthesis of oligonucleotides, phosphoramidites or phosphates are provided, where the esters include alkyl groups, particularly of from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and cyanoethyl groups, while for the phosphoramidite, dialkylamino, where the alkyl groups are of from 1-4 carbon atoms, while the other group would be a protected hydroxy, where the protecting group is common to oligonucleotide synthesis, e.g. dimethoxytrityl. For large numbers of e-tag probes, that is, 20 or more, one kit would supply at least 3 each of mass-modifying regions and charge-modifying regions, each having at least the phosphate linking group and a protected hydroxyl. The two functional groups may be separated by 2 or more atoms, usually not more than about 60 atoms, and may be vicinal (α,β to α,ω). The nature of the compounds has been discussed previously. In the simplest case, the phosphorous acid derivative would serve as the charge-modifying region, so that the mass-modifying region and the charge-modifying region would be added as a single group. In addition, at least 2 detectable regions may be employed, which would be a fluorescer having the phosphate linker and other functionalities protected for purposes of the synthesis. Alternatively, instead of having the detection region the terminal region, where the detectable region allows for the presence of two functionalities that can be used for linking, one of the other regions may serve as the terminal region. Also, one of the regions may be conveniently linked to a mono- or dinucleotide for direct linking to the oligonucleotide chain, where cleavage will occur at the 3′ site of the nucleotide attached to the e-tag reporter. By using tri- or tetra-substituted groups, a detectable region is employed that provides the pair for energy transfer. Only one or two different energy transfer agents are needed, while having a plurality of emitting agents to greatly expand the number of different e-tag reporters.

Where one prepares the e-tag probe, there will be the additional linking region, which in the above description is served by the phosphorous acid derivative or the mono- or dinucleotide unit phosphorous acid derivative. For these e-tag probes, one need not be restricted to phosphate links, but may use other convenient chemistries, particularly chemistries that are automated. Thus, instead of phosphorous acid and protected alcohol, one can use carboxy and alcohol or amino, activated olefin and thiol, amino and oxo-carbonyl, particularly with reductive amination, an hydroxy with an active halide or another hydroxy to form an ether, and the like. One may employ compounds that are di-functional, with the same or different functionalities, where one could have a diacid and a diol or a hydroxy acid or cyclic ester for producing the e-tag probe. Numerous examples of these types of compounds have already been described and are well known in the literature. By appropriate selection of the monomers and conditions, one can select a particular order of reaction, namely the number of monomers that react or one may separate the mixture by the different mobilities.

The kits will include at least two detectable regions and sufficient reagents to have at least about 10, usually at least about 20 and frequently at least about 50 or more different e-tag reporters that can be separated by their mobility.

The kits will usually have at least about 5 different e-tag moieties for conjugation, more usually at least about 10, frequently at least about 25 and may have about 50 or more, usually not more than about 1,000. The e-tag groups will differ as to mobility, including mass/charge ratio and nature of charge, e.g. overall positive or negative, detectable moiety, e.g. fluorophor, electrochemical, etc, or functionality for linking a detectable moiety, e.g. maleimide, mercaptan, aldehyde, ketone, etc.

EXAMPLES

The invention is demonstrated further by the following illustrative examples. Parts and percentages are by weight unless otherwise indicated. Temperatures are in degrees Centigrade (° C.) unless otherwise specified. The following preparations and examples illustrate the invention but are not intended to limit its scope. Unless otherwise indicated, oligonucleotides and peptides used in the following examples were prepared by synthesis using an automated synthesizer and were purified by gel electrophoresis or HPLC.

The following abbreviations have the meanings set forth below:

Tris HCl—Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane-HCl (a 10× solution) from BioWhittaker, Walkersville, Md.

HPLC—high performance liquid chromatography

BSA—bovine serum albumin from Sigma Chemical Company, St. Louis Mo.

EDTA—ethylene diamine tetra-acetate from Sigma Chemical Company

bp—base pairs

g—grams

mM—millimolar

TET—tetrachlorofluorescein

FAM—fluorescein

TAMRA—tetramethyl rhodamine

EOF—electroosmotic flow

Reagents

-   TET and TAMRA were purchased from Perkin Elmer (Foster City, Calif.)     as were conjugates of TET, FAM and TAMRA with oligonucleotides.     -   Master Mix (2×): 20 mM Tris-HCl, 2.0 mM EDTA, pH 8.0 (8%         Glycerol), 10 mM MgCl₂, dATP 400 μM, dCTP 400 μM, dGTP 400 μM,         dUTP 400 μM, AmpliTaq Gold® 0.1 U/μL (from Perkin Elmer),         Amperase UNG® 0.02 U/μL (from Perkin Elmer)     -   Probes and Primers: (10×)     -   Forward Primer: 3.5 μM 5′-TCA CCA CAT CCC AGT G-3′ (SEQ ID NO:1)     -   Reverse Primer: 2.0 μM 5′-GAG GGA GGTTTG GCTG-3′ (SEQ ID NO:2)     -   Plasmid Allele 1 Probe: 2.0 μM (200 nM per reaction)         -   5′ TET-CCA GCA ACC AAT GAT GCC CGT T-TAMRA-3′ (SEQ ID NO:3)     -   Plasmid Allele 2 Probe: 2.0 μM (200 nM per reaction)         -   5′ FAM-CCA GCA AGC ACT GAT GCC TGT T-TAMRA-3′ (SEQ ID NO:4)     -   Target DNA:     -   Plasmid Allele-1: 10 fg/μL=approximately 1000 copies/μL     -   Plasmid Allele-2: 10 fg/μL=approximately 1000 copies/μL         Synthesis of Elements of e-tag Probes

A. Synthesis of 6-Carboxyfluorescein Phosphoramidite Derivatives

To a solution of 6-carboxyfluorescein (0.5 g, 1.32 mmol) in dry pyridine (5 mL) was added drop wise, isobutyric anhydride (0.55 mL, 3.3 mmol). The reaction was allowed to stir at room temperature under an atmosphere of nitrogen for 3 h. After removal of pyridine in vacuo the residue was redissolved in ethyl acetate (150 mL) and washed with water (150 mL). The organic layer was separated, dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered, and concentrated in vacuo to yield a brownish residue. This material was dissolved in CH₂Cl₂ (5 mL) after which N-hydroxy succinimide (0.23 g, 2.0 mmol) and dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (0.41 g, 1.32 mmol) were added. The reaction was allowed to stir at room temperature for 3 h and then filtered through a fritted funnel to remove the white solid, which had formed. To the filtrate was added aminoethanol (0.12 mL, 2.0 mmol) dissolved in 1 mL of CH₂Cl₂. After 3 h the reaction was again filtered to remove a solid that had formed, and then diluted with additional CH₂Cl₂ (50 mL). The solution was washed with water (150 mL) and then separated. The organic layer was dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered, and concentrated in vacuo to yield a white foam (0.7 g, 95%, 3 steps). ¹H NMR: (DMSO), 8.68 (t, 1H), 8.21 (d, 1H), 8.14 (d, 1H), 7.83 (s, 1H), 7.31 (s, 2H), 6.95 (s, 4H), 4.69 (t, 1H), 3.45 (q, 2H), 3.25 (q, 2H), 2.84 (h, 2H), 1.25 (d, 12H). Mass (LR FAB⁺) calculated for C₃₁H₂₉NO₉ (M+H⁺) 559.2, found: 560.

B. Synthesis of Modified Fluorescein Phosphoramidites

Pivaloyl protected carboxyfluorescein: Into a 50 mL round bottom flask was placed 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein (0.94 g, 2.5 mmol), potassium carbonate (1.0 g, 7.5 mmol) and 20 mL of dry DMF. The reaction was stirred under nitrogen for 10 min, after which trimethylacetic anhydride (1.1 mL, 5.5 mmol) was added via syringe. The reaction was stirred at room temperature overnight, and then filtered to remove excess potassium carbonate and finally poured into 50 mL of 10% HCl. A sticky yellow solid precipitated out of solution. The aqueous solution was decanted off and the residual solid was dissolved in 10 mL of methanol. Drop wise addition of this solution to 10% HCl yielded a fine yellow precipitate, which was filtered and air dried to yield an off white solid (0.88 g, 62%). TLC (45:45:10 of Hxn:EtOAc:MeOH).

NHS ester of protected pivaloyl carboxyfluorescein. Into a 200 mL round bottom flask was placed the protected carboxyfluorescein (2.77 g, 5.1 mmol) and 50 mL of dichloromethane. N-hydroxysuccinimide (0.88 g, 7.6 mmol) and dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (1.57 g, 7.6 mmol) were added and the reaction was stirred at room temperature for 3 hours. The reaction was then filtered to remove the precipitated dicyclohexyl urea byproduct and reduced to approx. 10 mL of solvent in vacuo. Drop wise addition of hexanes with cooling produced a yellow-orange colored solid, which was triturated with hexanes, filtered and air-dried to yield 3.17 g (95%) of product. TLC (45:45:10 of Hxn:EtOAc:MeOH)

Alcohol. Into a 100 mL round bottom flask was placed the NHS ester (0.86 g, 1.34 mmol) and 25 mL of dichloromethane. The solution was stirred under nitrogen after which aminoethanol (81 mL, 1 eq) was added via syringe. The reaction was monitored by TLC (45:45:10 Hxn, EtOAc, MeOH) and was found to be complete after 10 min. The dichloromethane was then removed in vacuo and the residue dissolved in EtOAc, filtered and absorbed onto 1 g of silica gel. This was bedded onto a 50 g silica column and eluted with Hxn:EtOAc:MeOH (9:9:1) to give 125 mg (20%) of clean product.

Phosphoramidite. Into a 10 mL round bottom flask containing 125 mg of the alcohol was added 5 mL of dichloromethane. Diisopropyl ethylamine (139 μL, 0.8 mmol) was added via syringe. The colorless solution turned bright yellow. 2-cyanoethyl diisopropylchlorophosphoramidite (81 μL, 0.34 mmol) was added via syringe and the solution immediately went colorless. After 1 hour TLC (45:45:10 of Hxn:EtOAc:TEA) showed the reaction was complete with the formation of two closely eluting isomers. Material was purified on a silica column (45:45:10 of Hxn:EtOAc:TEA) isolating both isomers together and yielding 130 mg (85%).

Carboxylic acid. Into a 4 mL vial was placed 12-aminododecanoic acid (0.1 g, 0.5 mmol) and 2 mL of pyridine. To this suspension was added chlorotrimethyl silane (69 μL, 1.1 eq) via syringe. After all material dissolved (10 min) NHS ester (210 mg, 0.66 eq) was added. The reaction was stirred at room temperature overnight and then poured into water to precipitate a yellow solid, which was filtered, washed with water, and air-dried. TLC (45:45:10 of Hxn:EtOAc:MeOH) shows a mixture of two isomers.

General Procedure for Remaining Syntheses. The carboxylic acid formed as described above is activated by NHS ester formation with 1.5 eq each of N-hydroxysuccinimide and dicyclohexylcarbodiimide in dichloromethane. After filtration of the resulting dicyclohexylurea, treatment with 1 eq of varying amino alcohols will effect amide bond formation and result in a terminal alcohol. Phosphitylation using standard conditions described above will provide the phosphoramidite.

C. Synthesis of Biotinylated 2′-Deoxycytosine Phosphoramidite (FIG. 33)

Compound 1. Synthesis of 3′,5′-O-di-t-butyldimethylsilyl-2′-Deoxyuridine(1):

2′-deoxyuridine (4 gm, 17.5 mmol) and imidazole (3.47 gm, 52.5 mmol) were dissolved in 30 ml of dry DMF and t-butyidimethyl-silyl chloride (7.87 gm, 52.5 mmol) added to the stirring solution at room temperature. After 3 hrs, TLC on silica gel (10% MeOH+90% CH₂Cl₂) showed that all starting material had been converted to a new compound with higher R_(f). The solution was concentrated into a small volume; about 200 ml of ether was then added and washed three times with saturated aqueous NaCl solution. The organic layer was dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄, and the filtrate was evaporated to give a colorless gummy material that converted to a white solid product (eight g, 100%). This product was identified with HNMR and ES-MS.

Compound 2. Synthesis of 3′,5′-O-di-t-butyldimethylsilyl-N⁴-(1,2,4-triazolo)-2′-Deoxycytidine:

1,2,4-Triazole (19.45 g, 282 mmol) was suspended in 300 ml of anhydrous CH₃CN at 0° C., 8 ml of POCl₃, then 50 ml of triethylamine was added slowly in 5 min. After an hour, 3′,5′-O-di-t-butyldimethylsilyl-2′-deoxyuridine (Compound 1) (9 gm, 19.7 mmol) was dissolved in 200 ml of dry CH₃CN and added to the reaction over 20 min. After stirring the reaction for 16 hours at RT, TLC (100% ether) showed that all starting material was converted to a new compound with lower R_(f). The reaction mixture was filtered, reduced the volume of CH₃CN, diluted with ethyl acetate and washed with saturated aqueous NaHCO₃ then twice with saturated aqueous NaCl. The organic layer was dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄ and the solvent was evaporated, co-evaporated from toluene to give a yellow solid product (10 g, 100%). This product was identified with HNMR and ES-MS.

Compound 3. Synthesis of 3′,5′-O-di-t-butyldimethylsilyl-N⁴-(4,7,10-trioxa-1-tridecaneamino)-2′-deoxycytidine:

4,7,10-Trioxa-1,13-tridecanediamine (10.44 gm, 47.4 mmol) was dissolved in 100 ml dioxane, then 3′,5′-O-di-t-butyldimethylsilyl-4-(1,2,4-triazolo)-2′-deoxycytidine (Compound 2) (8.03 gm, 15.8 mmol) was dissolved in 200 ml of dioxane (heated to about 50 C and cooling it dawn to RT) and added drop wise in 10 min, to the solution of 4,7,10-Trioxa-1,13-tridecanediamine with vigorous stirring at RT. After 5 hrs, TLC on silica gel showed that all starting material was converted to a new product with lower Rf, the resulting mixture was evaporated to dryness. The residue was dissolved in dichloromethane and washed twice with 5% sodium bicarbonate solution and saturated sodium chloride solution. The organic layer was dried over sodium sulphate, filtered and evaporated to dryness to give a yellow gummy product (7.87 g). The product was purified on a silica gel column eluted with a gradient of 0 to 10% methanol in dichloromethane with 1% triethylamine. The product was obtained as a yellowish gum (5.66 g, 54%). This product was identified with HNMR and ES-MS.

Compound 4. Synthesis of 3′,5′-O-di-t-butyldimethylsilyl-4-N-(4,7,10-trioxa-1-tridecaneaminobiotin)-2′-deoxycytidine 3′,5′-O-di-t-butyldimethylsilyl-4-N-(4,7,10-trioxa-1-tridecaneamino)-2′-deoxycytidine (Compound 3) (2.657 gm, 4.43 mmol) and Biotin-NHS ester (1.814 gm, 5.316 mmol) were dissolved in 20 mL of dry DMF and about 1 mL of triethylamine was added. After stirring the reaction mixture for 4 hrs at RT, the reaction was stopped by evaporating all DMF to give a yellow gum material (4.36 g). This material was dissolved in dichloromethane and washed three times with saturated solution of NaCl, dried over sodium sulphate and evaporated to dryness. TLC on silica gel (5% MeOH+1% TEA+94% CH₂Cl₂) indicated the formation of a new product that was higher R_(f). This product was purified with column chromatography on silica gel using (99% CH₂Cl₂+1% TEA) to (1% MeOH+1% TEA+98% CH₂Cl₂) to yield a yellow foamy product (2.13 g, 60%). This product was identified with HNMR and ES-MS.

Compound 5. Synthesis of 4-N-(4,7,10-trioxa-1-tridecaneaminobiotin)-2′-deoxycytidine

3′,5′-O-di-t-butyldimethylsilyl-4-N-(4,7,10-trioxa-1-tridecaneaminobiotin)-2′-deoxycytidine (Compound 4) (1.6 gm, 1.8 mmol) was dissolved in 50 mL of dry THF, then about 5.5 mL of tetrabutylammonium fluoride in THF was added in 2 min. while stirring at RT. After 3 hrs, TLC on silica gel (10% MeOH+1% TEA+89% CH₂Cl₂) showed that a new product with lower R_(f) formed. The solvent was evaporated to give a yellow oily product. Column chromatography on silica gel eluted with (99% CH₂Cl₂+1% TEA) to (7% MeOH+1% TEA+92% CH₂Cl₂) permitted the purification of the product as a gummy colorless product (1.14 g, 97%). This product was identified with HNMR and ES-MS.

Compound 6. t-butylbenzoylation of the biotin of 4-N-(4,7,10-trioxa-1-tridecaneaminobiotin)-2′-deoxycytidine

4-N-(4,7,10-trioxa-1-tridecaneaminobiotin)-2′-deoxycytidine (Compound 5) (14.14 gm, 21.5 mmol) was dissolved in 100 mL of dry pyridine. Chlorotrimethyl silane (11.62 g, 107.6 mmol) was added and the mixture was stirred for 2 hrs at RT. 4-t-butylbenzoyl chloride (5.07 g, 25.8 mmol) was added and the mixture was stirred for another 2 hrs at RT. The reaction mixture was cooled with ice-bath and the reaction stopped by adding 50 ml of water and 50 ml of 28% aqueous ammonia solution. The solution kept stirring at RT for 20 min, then evaporated to dryness in high vacuum and finally co-evaporated twice from toluene. The material was dissolved in dichloromethane and extracted twice with 5% aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution. The organic layer was dried over sodium sulphate, evaporated to dryness, re-dissolved in dichloromethane and applied to a silica gel column. The column was eluted with gradient from 0 to 10% of methanol in dichloromethane and obtained a product as a white foam (9.4 gm, 53.5%). This product was identified with HNMR and ES-MS.

Compound 7. Synthesis of 5′-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytriphenylmethyl)-4-N-(4,7,10-trioxa-1-tridecaneaminobiotin)-2′-deoxycytidine

Compound 6 (10.82 gm, 13.3 mmol) was co-evaporated twice from dry pyridine, then dissolved in pyridine (100 ml) and 4,4′-dimethoxytritylchloride(DMT-Cl) (6.76 gm, 19.95 mmol) was added and the resulting mixture stirred for 3 hrs. TLC (10% MeOH+1% TEA+89% CH₂Cl₂) showed the formation of new product with higher Rf, and some starting material remained unreacted, then another amount of DMTCl (2 gm) was added and kept stirring for 2 hrs. The reaction was stopped by adding ethanol, and the mixture was stirred for 15 min. After evaporation to dryness and co-evaporation from toluene, the material was dissolved in dichloromethane. The organic layer was washed twice with 5% aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution, dried over sodium sulphate and evaporated to dryness. The product was purified on a silica column using a gradient of methanol from 0 to 5% in dichloromethane/1% TEA. The product was obtained as a white foam (4.55 gm, 31%). This product was identified with HNMR and ES-MS.

Compound 8. Synthesis of 3′-O-[(diisopropylamine)(2-cyanoethoxy)phosphino)]-5′-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytriphenylmethyl)-4-N-(4,7,10-trioxa-1-tridecaneaminobiotin)-2′-deoxycytidine

The 5′-DMT-Biotin-dC (Compound 7) (507 mg, 0.453 mmol) was dissolved in dry acetonitrile (30 ml) and dichloromethane (5 ml), then diisopropylamine (73 mg, 0.56 mmol), tetrazole (1.15 ml, 0.52 mmol) and 2-cyanoethyl N,N,N′N′-tetraisopropylphosphane 214 mg, 234 μL, 0.7 mmol) were added and the mixture stirred under nitrogen at RT. After 2 hrs, TLC on silica gel (45%:45%:5%:5%: of ethyl acetate:dichloromethane:triethylamine:methanol) showed that only about 30% of product was formed and about 70% of starting material was unreacted. More reagents were added until most of starting material was converted, with only about 5% left unreacted. The solvent was evaporated to dryness, dissolved in dry dichloromethane, washed with sodium bicarbonate solution (5%), saturated brine solution, then the organic layer was dried over sodium sulphate, evaporated to dryness. Column chromatography was carried out on silica gel using (48%:48%:4% of ethyl acetate:dichloromethane:triethylamine) to (47%:47%:5%:1% of ethyl acetate:dichloromethane:triethylamine:methanol). The desired product was obtained as a colorless gummy product (406 mg, 70%). This material was co-evaporated three times from a mixture of dry benzene and dichloromethane, then was kept in desiccated containing P₂O₅ and NaOH pellets under vacuum for 26 hrs before used in DNA synthesis.

D. Synthesis of Biotinylated 2′-Deoxyadenosine Phosphoramidite (FIG. 34)

Compound 1. Synthesis of 8-bromo-2′-deoxyadenosine

2′-deoxyadenosine (7 gm, 25.9 mmol) was dissolved in sodium acetate buffer (150 mL, 1 M, pH 5.0) by worming it to about 50° C., then was cooled dawn to 30° C., then 3 mL of bromine in 100 mL of the same buffer was added drop wise at RT for 15 min, to the reaction. After 6 hrs the TLC on silica gel (20% MeOH in CH₂Cl₂) showed that all starting material was converted to a new product. The reaction was discolored by adding some sodium metabisulfite (Na₂S₂O₅) while stirring. The color changed to a white solution, and the pH of the reaction was neutralized by adding 1M NaOH. The reaction mixture was kept at 4° C. (refrigerator) for 16 hrs. The solid material was then filtered, washed with cold water, then acetone to give a solid yellow powder product (5.75 gm, 64%). The structure of this product was confirmed by H-NMR and ES-MS.

Compound 2. Synthesis of N⁶-benzoyl-8-bromo-5′-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityl)-2′-deoxyadenosine

8-bromo-2′-deoxyadenosine (Compound 1) (7.7 gm. 22.17 mmol) was dried by co-evaporation with dry pyridine and the solid was suspended in 200 ml of dry pyridine followed by the addition of 4,4′-dimethoxytriphenylmethyl chloride (DMT-Cl, 9 gm, 26.6 mmol). After stirring for 4 hrs at RT, TLC on a silica gel showed that a new product was formed and some starting material was unreacted. Another amount of DMT-Cl (3 g) was added and stirred at RT for 2 hrs. When TLC showed that all starting material was converted to new product with a higher Rf, the reaction mixture was cooled to 0° C. and trimethylchlorosilane (12.042 gm., 14 mL, 110.85 mmol) was added drop wise while cooling and after 40 min while stirring benzoyl chloride (15.58 gm, 12.88 mL, 110.85 mmol) was similarly added. The reaction was allowed to react at RT over 2 hrs. The reaction was quenched by slow addition of cold water (50 ml), followed by addition of concentrated ammonia (30%, 50 ml). After 30 min, the reaction mixture was evaporated to dryness. The residue was dissolved in water, and the solution was extracted with ethyl acetate three times, the organic layer washed with saturated sodium bicarbonate solution, and then brine. The organic phase was dried over sodium sulphate, then evaporated to dryness. The product was purified by silica column chromatography, to give a yellowish solid product (6.79 g, 41.6%). The structure of this product was confirmed by H NMR and ES-MS.

Compound 3. Synthesis of N⁶-benzoyl-8-bromo-3′-O-t-butyldimethylsilyl-5′-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityl)-2′-deoxyadenosine

6N-benzoyl-8-bromo-5′-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityl)-2′-deoxyadenosine (Compound 2) (14 gm, 19 mmol) and imidazole (1.94 gm, 28.5 mmol) were dissolved in 100 mL of dry DMF and t-butyldimethyl-silyl chloride (4.3 gm, 28.5 mmol) added to the stirring solution at room temperature. After 4 hrs, TLC on silica gel (2.5% MeOH in CH₂Cl₂) showed that all starting material had been converted to a new product with higher R_(f). The solution was concentrated into a small volume, then about 400 mL of ether was added and washed three times with saturated aqueous NaCl solution. The organic layer was dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄, and the filtrate was evaporated to give an off-white foamy product (16.18 g, 100%). H NMR and ES-MS confirmed the structure.

Compound 4. Synthesis of N⁶-benzoyl-8-(4,7,10-trioxa-1-tridecaneamino)-3′-O-t-butyldimethylsilyl-5′-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityl)-2′-deoxyadenosine

N⁶-bBenzoyl-8-bromo-3′-O-t-butyldimethylsilyl-5′-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityl)-2′-deoxyadenosine (Compound 3) (8.31 gm, 9.7 mmol) was dissolved in 200 ml of ethanol then 4,7,10-trioxa-1,13-tridecanediamine (6.75 gm, 6.7 ml, 30 mmol) was added at once and kept stirring at 50° C. After 16 hrs TLC showed that all starting material was converted to one major product with lower Rf and other minor products. The solvent was evaporated to dryness, dissolved in dichloromethane, washed three times with a solution of brine, dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄, then evaporated to give a yellow gummy material. Column chromatography (1% TEA+CH₂Cl₂) to (1% TEA+5% MeOH+CH₂Cl₂) permitted the purification of the major product as an off-white gummy material (4.53 gm, 47%). This product was identified with HNMR and ES-MS.

Compound 5. Synthesis of N⁶-benzoyl-8-(4,7,10-trioxa-1-tridecaneaminobiotin)-3′-O-t-butyldimethylsilyl-5′-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityl)-2-deoxyadenosine

N⁶-benzoyl-8-(4,7,10-trioxa-1-tridecaneamino)-3′-O-t-butyldimethylsilyl-5′-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityl)-2′-deoxyadenosine (Compound 4) (4.53 gm, 4.57 mmol) and biotin-NHS ester (3.12 gm, 9.13 mmol) were dissolved in 75 mL of DMF and few drops of TEA were added and the reaction was stirred at RT. After 2 hrs TLC on silica gel (5% MeOH+1% TEA+94% CH₂Cl₂) showed the formation of one major product less polar than starting material and another minor spot has lower Rf. The solvent was evaporated to dryness, then dissolved in CH₂Cl₂ and washed three times with a saturated solution of NaCl, dried the organic layer, evaporated to dryness to leave a yellow gummy material. This material was purified with column chromatography on silica gel by using (1% TEA+CH₂Cl₂) to (1% TEA+2.5% MeOH+CH₂Cl₂) as eluent. After evaporating the fractions containing the product, gave a yellowish solid material (3.16 g, 78%). HNMR and ES-MS confirmed the structure.

Compound 6. Synthesis of N⁶-benzoyl-8-(4,7,10-trioxa-1-tridecaneaminobiotin)-5′-O-(4,4′-dimethox)trityl)-2′-deoxyadenosine

N⁶-benzoyl-8-(4,7,10-trioxa-1-tridecaneaminobiotin)-3′-O-t-butyldimethylsilyl-5′-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityl)-2′-deoxyadenosine (Compound 5) (3.16 gm, 2.6 mmol) was dissolved in 100 mL of dry THF, and then about (3.25 ml, 3.25 mmol) of tetrabutylammonium fluoride in THF was added in 5 min while stirring at RT. After 8 hrs, TLC on silica gel (10% MeOH+1% TEA+89% CH₂Cl₂) showed that a new product with lower R_(f) formed. The solvent was evaporated to give a yellow oily material. Column chromatography on silica gel eluted with (99% CH₂Cl₂+1% TEA) to (5% MeOH+1% TEA+94% CH₂Cl₂) permitted the purification of the product as a white foamy product (2.86 g, 100%). HNMR and ES-MS confirmed the structure.

Compound 7. Synthesis of N⁶-benzoyl-8-(4,7,10-trioxa-1-tridecaneaminobiotin)-3′-O-[(diisopropylamine)(2-cyanoethoxy)phosphino)]-5′-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityl)-2′-deoxyadenosine

N⁶-benzoyl-8-(4,7,10-trioxa-1-tridecaneaminobiotin)-5′-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityl)-2′-deoxyadenosine (Compound 6) (0.959 gm, 0.86 mmol) was dissolved in a mixture of dry acetonitrile (200 mL) and dichloromethane (50 mL), and diisopropylamine (224 μL, 1.29 mmol) followed by the addition of 2-cyanoethyl N,N,N′,N′-tetraisopropylphosphane (404 μL, 1.29 mmol) and tetrazole (2.6 ml, 1.2 mmol, 0.45 M solution in dry acetonitrile). The addition and subsequent reaction are performed under argon while stirring at RT. After 1.5 h, TLC on silica gel (5% MeOH+5% TEA+45% EA+45% CH₂Cl₂) showed that only about 50% of starting material (SM) was converted to a new product. The same above amount of reagents was added to the reaction and kept stirring for another 2 hrs at RT. TLC showed that about 95% of SM was converted to a new product with higher R_(f). The solvent was evaporated to dryness then was dissolved in dichloromethane, extracted once with 5% solution of bicarbonate, followed by saturated brine solution and then dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporated to dryness. Column chromatography on silica gel (10% TEA+45% EA+45% CH₂Cl₂) first, then (5% TEA+5% MeOH+45% EA+45% CH₂Cl₂). After evaporating the fractions containing the product, gave a yellow gummy material (774 mg). This material was co-evaporated three times from a mixture of dry benzene and dichloromethane, then was kept in desiccant containing P₂O₅ and NaOH pellets under vacuum for 24 hrs before used in DNA synthesis.

E. Synthesis of Biotinylated 2′-Deoxguanosine Phosphoramidite Scheme (7)

The phosphoramidite of biotin-dG is prepared as set forth in FIG. 62.

1. Synthesis of 8-(4,7,10-trioxa-1-tridecaneamino)-2′-deoxyguanosine (2):

8-Bromo-2′-Deoxyguanosine (15 g, 43 mmol) and 4,7,10-trioxa-1-tridecanediamine (150 ml) were heated together at 120° C. for 18 h while stirring. TLC on silica gel (20% Methanol (MeOH)+1% triethyl amine (TEA)+79% CH₂Cl₂) showed that all starting material was converted to a very polar product, which gave a positive test with the ninhydrin test. The reaction was cooled down; dichloromethane was added and the mixture was stirred and decanted. This procedure was repeated three times to remove all the diamine. The product, a brown gummy material, was re-dissolved in a mixture of methanol and dichloromethane and precipitated from ether to give a brown gummy product. Flash column chromatography on silica gel (10% MeOH+1% TEA+89% CH₂Cl₂ to 70% MeOH+1% TEA+29% CH₂Cl₂) permitted the purification of the product as a light brown foamy material (18.92 g, 90%). This product was identified with HNMR and ES-MS.

2. Synthesis of 8-(4,7,10-trioxa-1-tridecaneamidobiotin)-2′-deoxyguanosine (3):

Compound (2) (7.72 g, 15.89 mmol) was dissolved in 150 ml of water, and then biotin-NHS (8.137 g, 23.83 mmol) was dissolved in DMF and added to the reaction while stirring at RT. After 30 min., TLC on silica gel showed that all starting material was converted to a new product with higher Rf. The reaction was stopped by evaporating all solvent under high vacuum to leave a brown gummy material. Flash column chromatography on silica gel (10% MeOH+1% TEA+89% CH₂Cl₂ to 20% MeOH+1% TEA+79% CH₂Cl₂) permitted the purification of the product as light brown foamy product (10.02 g, 89%). This product was identified with HNMR and ES-MS.

3. Synthesis of N²-(N,N′-dimethylformamide)-8-(4,7,10-trioxa-1-tridecaneamidobiotin)-2′-deoxyguanosine (4):

Compound (3) (10 g, 14.05 mmol) was dissolved in 300 ml of dry methanol by heating it to about 80° C. and the reaction mixture was allowed to cool down to RT. Then, N,N′-dimethylformamide dimethylacetal (5.97 ml, 44.96 mmol) was added dropwise in 5 min. After the reaction was stirred at RT for 18 h, TLC on silica gel showed that all starting material was converted to a higher Rf product. The reaction was stopped by evaporating all solvent and co-evaporated once from methanol under high vacuum to give a light brown foamy product (10 g, 92%). This product was identified with HNMR and ES-MS.

4. Synthesis of 5′-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityl)-N²-(N,N′-dimethylformamide)-8-(4,7,10-trioxa-1-tridecaneamidobiotin)-2′-deoxyguanosine (5):

Compound (4) (7.4 g, 9.65 mmol) was co-evaporated twice under high vacuum from dry pyridine and then was dissolved in dry pyridine (300 ml). DMT-Cl (4.9 g, 14.47 mmol) was added at once and the mixture was kept stirring at RT. After 3 h, TLC showed that about 70% of the starting material was converted to a new product. Another 1.3 g of DMT-Cl was added and the mixture was stirred overnight. TLC showed that all starting material was converted to a new product with higher Rf. The reaction was stopped by adding 2 ml of dry methanol and stirring for 15 min. The mixture was evaporated to dryness. This material was co-evaporated twice from a mixture of dichloromethane and toluene and then was purified by flash chromatography on silica gel. After evaporating the fractions containing the product yielded only (2.5 g) of pure product. The remainder of the material appeared to have hydrolyzed to starting material due to the TEA in the column. The product was identified with HNMR and ES-MS.

5. Synthesis of 3′-O-[(diisopropylamine)(2-cyanoethoxy)phosphino)]-5′-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityl)-N²-(N,N′-dimethylformamide)-8-(4,7,10-trioxa-1-tridecaneamidobiotin)-2′-deoxyguanosine (6):

Compound (5)(0.962 gm, 0.89 mmol) was dissolved in dry dichloromethane (30 ml) and diisopropylamine (0.186 ml, 1.07 mmol) followed by the addition of 2-cyanoethyl N,N,N′,N′-tetraisopropylphosphane (0.440 ml, 1.33 mmol) and tetrazole (2.2 ml, 0.979 mmol, 0.45 M solution in dry acetonitrile). The addition and subsequent reaction were performed under nitrogen while stirring at RT. After 4 h, TLC on silica gel (10% MeOH+1% TEA+89% CH₂Cl₂) showed that all starting material was converted to a new product with higher Rf. The reaction was stopped by the addition of 0.2 ml of dry methanol and the reaction mixture was stirred for 15 min., at RT. The solvent was evaporated to dryness and the residue was dissolved in dichloromethane. The mixture was extracted once with 5% solution of bicarbonate, followed by saturated brine solution and then was dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporated to dryness. Flash column chromatography on silica gel (5% MeOH+5% TEA+45% ethyl acetate (EA)+45% CH₂Cl₂) first then (7.5% MeOH+5% TEA+42.5% EA+42.5% CH₂Cl₂). Evaporating the fractions containing the pure product gave a foamy light brown product (0.965 g). This material was co-evaporated three times from a mixture of dry pyridine and dry dichloromethane and then was kept in desiccator containing P₂O₅ and NaOH pellets under vacuum for 24 h before used in DNA synthesis.

F. Synthesis of Oligonucleotides Containing Biotin-dC, Biotin-dA and Biotin-dG

The syntheses of oligonucleotides containing biotin-dC, biotin-dA and biotin-dG, site-specifically located, were performed on a CPG support using a fully automated DNA synthesizer and the commercially available fully protected deoxynucleosides phosphoramidites. Syntheses of all these oligonucleotides were carried out at 1.0 and 0.4 μmol scale. The coupling time for the biotin-dC, -dA and -dG were extended to 900 seconds. The coupling efficiency of the biotin-dC, -dA, -dG phosphoramidites was found greater than 96%. After coupling of the biotinylated phosphoramidites, the remaining residues comprising the e-tag reporter of interest were added. Upon completion of the synthesis of the oligonucleotides, they were deprotected with concentrated ammonia at 65° C. for 1 hour. These oligonucleotides were purified by reverse-phase HPLC and desalted by OPC column, then used as such.

G. Synthesis of ACLA001 (FIG. 17) on an ABI 394 DNA Synthesizer

6-Carboxyfluorescein (6-FAM) phosphoramidite is prepared by the addition of 2.96 ml of anhydrous acetonitrile to a 0.25 gram bottle of the fluorescein phosphoramidite, to give a 0.1 M solution. The bottle is then loaded onto the ABI 394 DNA synthesizer at position 8 using the standard bottle change protocol. The other natural [dA^(bz) (0.1 M: 0.25 g/2.91 mL anhydrous acetonitrile), dC^(Ac)(0.1 M: 0.25 g/3.24 mL anhydrous acetonitrile), dT(0.1 M: 0.25 g/3.36 mL anhydrous acetonitrile), dG^(dmf) (0.1 M: 0.25 g/2.81 mL anhydrous acetonitrile)] phosphoramidite monomers are loaded in a similar fashion to ports 1-4. Acetonitrile is loaded onto side port 18, standard tetrazole activator is loaded onto port 9, CAP A is loaded onto port 11, CAP B is loaded onto port 12, oxidant is loaded onto port 15, and deblock solution is loaded onto port 14 all using standard bottle change protocols.

Standard Reagents Employed for DNA Synthesis

Oxidizer: 0.02 M Iodine (0.015 M for MGB Probes)

DeBlock: 3% trichloracetic acid in dichloromethane

Activator: 1H-Tetrazole in anhydrous acetonitrile

HPLC Grade Acetonitrile (0.002% water)

Cap A: acetic anhydride

Cap B: N-methyl imidazole

The target sequence of interest is then input with a terminal coupling from port 8 to attach ACLA001 to the 5′-end of the sequence. A modified cycle is then chosen such that the desired scale (0.2 μmol, 1.0 μmol, etc.) of DNA is synthesized. The modified cycle contains an additional wait step of 800 seconds after any addition of 6-FAM. A standard DNA synthesis column containing the support upon which the DNA will be assembled is then loaded onto one of four positions of the DNA synthesizer. DNA containing e-tag reporters have been synthesized on various standard 500 Å CPG supports (Pac-dA-CPG, dmf-dG-CPG, Ac-dC-CPG, dT-CPG) as well as specialty supports containing 3′-biotin, 3′-amino linker, and minor grove binding species.

Upon completion of the synthesis, the column is removed from the synthesizer and either dried under vacuum or by blowing air or nitrogen through the column to remove residual acetonitrile. The column is then opened and the CPG is removed and placed in a 1-dram vial. Concentrated ammonia is added (2.0 mL) and the vial is sealed and placed into a heat block set at 65° C. for a minimum of two hours. After two hours the vial is allowed to cool to room temperature after which the ammonia solution is removed using a Pasteur pipette and placed into a 1.5 mL Eppendorf tube. The solution is concentrated in vacuo and submitted for HPLC purification.

H. Synthesis of ACLA002 (FIG. 17) on an ABI 394 DNA Synthesizer

6-Carboxyfluorescein (6-FAM) phosphoramidite is prepared by the addition of 2.96 mL of anhydrous acetonitrile to a 0.25 gram bottle of the fluorescein phosphoramidite, to give a 0.1 M solution. The bottle is then loaded onto the ABI 394 DNA synthesizer at position 8 using the standard bottle change protocol. The other natural [dA^(bz) (0.1 M: 0.25 g/2.91 mL anhydrous acetonitrile), dC^(Ac) (0.1 M: 0.25 g/3.24 mL anhydrous acetonitrile), dT (0.1 M: 0.25 g/3.36 mL anhydrous acetonitrile), dG^(dmf) (0.1 M: 0.25 g/2.81 mL anhydrous acetonitrile)] phosphoramidite monomers are loaded in a similar fashion to ports 1-4. Acetonitrile is loaded onto side port 18, standard tetrazole activator is loaded onto port 9, CAP A is loaded onto port 11, CAP B is loaded onto port 12, oxidant is loaded onto port 15, and deblock solution is loaded onto port 14 all using standard bottle change protocols. The target sequence of interest is then input with a terminal coupling from port 8 and a penultimate coupling of thymidine to the 5′-end of the sequence to assemble ACLA002. A modified cycle is then chosen such that the desired scale (0.2 μmol, 1.0 μmol, etc.) of DNA is synthesized. The modified cycle contains an additional wait step of 800 seconds after any addition of 6-FAM. A standard DNA synthesis column containing the support upon which the DNA will be assembled is then loaded onto one of four positions of the DNA synthesizer. DNA containing e-tag reporters have been synthesized on various standard 500 Å CPG supports (Pac-dA-CPG, dmf-dG-CPG, Ac-dC-CPG, dT-CPG) as well as specialty supports containing 3′-biotin, 3′-amino linker, and minor grove binding species.

Upon completion of the synthesis the column is removed from the synthesizer and either dried under vacuum or by blowing air or nitrogen through the column to remove residual acetonitrile. The column is then opened and the CPG is removed and placed in a 1-dram vial. Concentrated ammonia is added (2.0 mL) and the vial is sealed and placed into a heat block set at 65° C. for a minimum of two hours. After two hours the vial is allowed to cool to room temperature after which the ammonia solution is removed using a Pasteur pipette and placed into a 1.5 mL Eppendorf tube. The solution is concentrated in vacuo and submitted for HPLC purification.

I. Synthesis of ACLA003 (FIG. 17) on an ABI 394 DNA Synthesizer

6-Carboxyfluorescein (6-FAM) phosphoramidite is prepared by the addition of 2.96 mL of anhydrous acetonitrile to a 0.25 gram bottle of the fluorescein phosphoramidite, to give a 0.1 M solution. The bottle is then loaded onto the ABI 394 DNA synthesizer at position 8 using the standard bottle change protocol. The other natural [dA^(bz) (0.1 M: 0.25 g/2.91 mL anhydrous acetonitrile), dC^(Ac) (0.1 M: 0.25 g/3.24 mL anhydrous acetonitrile), dT (0.1 M: 0.25 g/3.36 mL anhydrous acetonitrile), dG^(dmf) (0.1 M: 0.25 g/2.81 mL anhydrous acetonitrile)] phosphoramidite monomers are loaded in a similar fashion to ports 1-4. Acetonitrile is loaded onto side port 18, standard tetrazole activator is loaded onto port 9, CAP A is loaded onto port 11, CAP B is loaded onto port 12, oxidant is loaded onto port 15, and deblock solution is loaded onto port 14 all using standard bottle change protocols. The target sequence of interest is then input with a terminal coupling from port 8 and two penultimate couplings of thymidine to the 5′-end of the sequence to assemble ACLA003. A modified cycle is then chosen such that the desired scale (0.2 μmol, 1.0 μmol, etc.) of DNA is synthesized. The modified cycle contains an additional wait step of 800 seconds after any addition of 6-FAM. A standard DNA synthesis column containing the support upon which the DNA will be assembled is then loaded onto one of four positions of the DNA synthesizer. DNA containing e-tag moieites have been synthesized on various standard 500 Å CPG supports (Pac-dA-CPG, dmf-dG-CPG, Ac-dC-CPG, dT-CPG) as well as specialty supports containing 3′-biotin, 3′-amino linker, and minor grove binding species.

Upon completion of the synthesis, the column is removed from the synthesizer and either dried under vacuum or by blowing air or nitrogen through the column to remove residual acetonitrile. The column is then opened and the CPG is removed and placed in a 1-dram vial. Concentrated ammonia is added (2.0 mL) and the vial is sealed and placed into a heat block set at 65° C. for a minimum of two hours. After two hours the vial is allowed to cool to room temperature after which the ammonia solution is removed using a Pasteur pipette and placed into a 1.5 mL Eppendorf tube. The solution is concentrated in vacuo and submitted for HPLC purification.

J. Synthesis of ACLA016 (FIG. 17) on an ABI 394 DNA Synthesizer

6-Carboxyfluorescein (6-FAM) phosphoramidite is prepared by the addition of 2.96 mL of anhydrous acetonitrile to a 0.25 gram bottle of the fluorescein phosphoramidite, to give a 0.1 M solution. The bottle is then loaded onto the ABI 394 DNA synthesizer at position 8 using the standard bottle change protocol. Spacer phosphoramidite C3 (0.25 g) is dissolved in 5.0 mL of anhydrous acetonitrile and loaded onto position 5 of the synthesizer. The other natural [dA^(bz) (0.1 M: 0.25 g/2.91 mL anhydrous acetonitrile), dC^(Ac) (0.1 M: 0.25 g/3.24 mL anhydrous acetonitrile), dT (0.1 M: 0.25 g/3.36 mL anhydrous acetonitrile), dG^(dmf) (0.1 M: 0.25 g/2.81 mL anhydrous acetonitrile)] phosphoramidite monomers are loaded in a similar fashion to ports 1-4. Acetonitrile is loaded onto side port 18, standard tetrazole activator is loaded onto port 9, CAP A is loaded onto port 11, CAP B is loaded onto port 12, oxidant is loaded onto port 15, and deblock solution is loaded onto port 14 all using standard bottle change protocols. The target sequence of interest is then input with a terminal coupling from port 8 and a penultimate coupling of the C3 spacer from port 5 to assemble ACLA016. A modified cycle is then chosen such that the desired scale (0.2 μmol, 1.0 μmol, etc.) of DNA is synthesized. The modified cycle contains an additional wait step of 800 seconds after any addition of 6-FAM. A standard DNA synthesis column containing the support upon which the DNA will be assembled is then loaded onto one of four positions of the DNA synthesizer. DNA containing e-tag moieties have been synthesized on various standard 500 Å CPG supports (Pac-dA-CPG, dmf-dG-CPG, Ac-dC-CPG, dT-CPG) as well as specialty supports containing 3′-biotin, 3′-amino linker, and minor grove binding species.

Upon completion of the synthesis the column is removed from the synthesizer and either dried under vacuum or by blowing air or nitrogen through the column to remove residual acetonitrile. The column is then opened and the CPG is removed and placed in a 1-dram vial. Concentrated ammonia is added (2.0 mL) and the vial is sealed and placed into a heat block set at 65° C. for a minimum of two hours. After two hours the vial is allowed to cool to room temperature after which the ammonia solution is removed using a Pasteur pipette and placed into a 1.5 mL Eppendorf tube. The solution is concentrated in vacuo and submitted for HPLC purification.

All other e-tag probes are synthesized in a similar manner to that described above.

FIG. 17 provides a list of different e-tag probes with their structures. FIG. 6 provides a list of elution times of some of these e-tag molecules on an ABI 3100 using POP4 as the separation matrix. C₃, C₆, C₉ and C₁₈ are commercially available phosphoramidite spacers from Glen Research, Sterling, Va. The units are derivatives of N,N-diisopropyl, O-cyanoethyl phosphoramidite, which is indicated by Q. The subscripts indicate the number of atoms in the chain, which comprises units of ethyleneoxy terminating in Q with the other terminus protected with DMT. The letters without subscripts A, T, C and G indicate the conventional nucleotides, while _(T) ^(NH) ² intends amino thymidine and C^(Br) intends bromocytidine. In FIG. 8, the numbers indicate the e-tag reporter as indicated in FIG. 17.

Example 1 Singleplex Amplifications of Allele 1 and Allele 2

The experiment was set up to run in the following fashion (6 samples, a triplicate for Allele1 and another triplicate for Allele-2):

-   -   22 μL of Mastermix     -   13 μL of probes and primers (both the probes are present)     -   4.0 μL of Allele-1 or Allele-2     -   11 μL of buffer (10 mM Tris-HCl, 1 mM EDTA, pH8.0)         Allele 1 was labeled with tetrachloro fluorescein (TET), and         Allele 2 was labeled with fluorescein (FAM), each having         characteristics as set forth in FIG. 1B.

The above volumes were added to a PCR tubes and the reaction mixtures were cycled on a Gene Amp® system 9600 thermal cycler (Perkin Elmer) as follows:

-   -   50° C.; 2 MIN (for optimal AmpErase UNG activity)     -   96° C.; 10 MIN (required to activate AmpliTaq Gold DNA         Polymerase)     -   40 cycles of:     -   95° C.; 15 SEC     -   60° C.; 60 SEC     -   70° C.; 10 MIN     -   4° C.; storage

Results from experiments with Allele-1 are shown in FIGS. 18A and B: CE separation of the reaction products of Allele 1 after 0 and 40 cycles. CE instrument was Beckman P/ACE 5000 with LIF detection. BGE: 2.5% LDD30, 7 M urea, 1×TBE. Capillary: 100 μm i.d., 375 μm o.d., Lc=27 cm, Ld=6.9 cm. Detection: λ_(ex)=488 nm, λ_(em)=520 nm. Injection: 5 s at 2.0 kV. Field strength: 100 V/cm at room temperature. Peaks: P=unreacted primer, P′=primer product.

Results from experiments with Allele-2 are shown in FIGS. 19A and B: CE separation of the reaction products of Allele 2 after 0 and 40 cycles. Experimental conditions were as given above for the FIG. 18 experiment except for the BGE composition: 2.0% LDD30, 1×TBE.

Example 2 A Multiplexed Reaction with Both Allele 1 and Allele 2 Present in Equal Ratio

The experiment was set up in the following fashion (3 reaction tubes, a triplicate):

-   -   22 μL of Mastermix     -   13 μL of probes and primers (both of the probes were present)     -   4.0 μL of Allele-1     -   4.0 μL of Allele-2     -   7 μL of buffer (10 mM Tris-HCl, 1 mM EDTA, pH 8.0)         The above volumes were added to a PCR tubes and the reaction         mixtures were cycled on a Gene Amp® system 9600 thermal cycler         (Perkin Elmer) as follows:     -   50° C.; 2 MIN (for optimal AmpErase UNG activity)     -   96° C.; 10 MIN (required to activate AmpliTaq Gold DNA         Polymerase)     -   40 cycles of:     -   95° C.; 15 SEC     -   60° C.; 60 SEC     -   70° C.; 10 MIN     -   4° C.; storage

The results are shown in FIG. 20: CE separation of a 1:1 mixture of the 40 cycles products of Alleles 1 and 2. Experimental conditions were as given above for the experiments of FIG. 18.

Example 3 A Multiplexed Reaction with Both Allele 1 and Allele 2 Where Allele 1 is 10 Times more Concentrated than Allele 2

The experiment was set up in the following fashion (3 reaction tubes, a triplicate):

-   -   22 μL of Mastermix     -   13 μL of probes and primers (both the probes were present)     -   5.0 μL of Allele 1     -   0.5 μL of Allele 2     -   9.5 μL of buffer (10 mM Tris-HCl, 1 l mM EDTA, pH 8.0)         The above volumes were added to a PCR tubes and the reaction         mixtures were cycled on a Gene Amp® system 9600 thermal cycler         (Perkin Elmer) as follows:     -   50° C.; 2 MIN (for optimal AmpErase UNG activity)     -   96 C; 10 MIN (required to activate AmpliTaq Gold DNA Polymerase)     -   40 cycles of:     -   95° C.; 15 SEC     -   60° C.; 60 SEC     -   70 C; 10 MIN     -   4 C; storage

The results are shown in FIG. 21: CE separation of a 1:10 mixture of the 40 cycles products of Alleles 1 and 2. Experimental conditions were as given for the experiments of FIG. 18.

Example 4 Electroseparation of Label Conjugates on Microfluidic Chip

1. Label conjugates comprising fluorescein linked to three different peptides, namely, KKAA (SEQ ID NO:5), KKKA (SEQ ID NO:6) and KKKK (SEQ ID NO:7) were prepared as follows: The protected tetrapeptide was prepared on resin using Merrifield reagents. The N-terminus of the last amino acid was reacted with fluorescein N-hydroxysuccinimide (Molecular Probes). The peptides were cleaved from the resin and purified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

The label conjugates, prepared as described above, and fluorescein were combined in an aqueous buffered solution and were separated and detected in an electrophoresis chip. Detection was 0.5 cm for the injection point on the anodal side of an electrophoresis channel. FITC-KKKK exhibited a negative charge and FITC-KKKA and FITC-KKKK exhibited a positive charge as determined by the migration time relative to EOF. The net charge of FITC-KKKK was greater than +1 and FITC-KKKA and FITC-KKKK migrated electrophoretically against the EOF. The results are shown in FIG. 22.

Example 5 Multiplexed Analysis of CFTR SNP Loci with e-tag Probes

A. Capillary Electrophoresis of CFTR PCR Products with e-tag Probes on ABI 310

The following example demonstrates separation in a gel based capillary electrophoresis of cleavage of a probe. The conditions employed were: Gel: 2.5% LDD30 in 1×TBE with 7 M urea; CE: PE ABI 310; Capillary: 47 cm long; 36 cm to window; 75 μm ID; Running Buffer: 1×TBE. (LDD30 is a linear copolymer of N,N-diethyl acrylamide and N,N-dimethylacrylamide, 70:30).

The ABI310 was set up in accordance with the directions of the manufacturer. The parameters used were: injection: 5 sec, 2.0 kV; run: 9.4 kV, 45° C., 10 min. To determine the relative mobilities of the digested probes, a spike-in system was used. First one digested probe was separated and its peak site determined, then a second probe was spiked into the first probe and the two separated. Then, a third probe was spiked in and separated, and so on until the sites of all six probes was determined. The singleplex PCR runs were first separated followed by separation of the multiplex PCR, which was compared to the S1 digested separation.

B. Multiplexed Amplification of CFTR Fragments with e-tag Probes

In this study, reactions involved a plurality of probes in the same PCR reaction mixture for different SNPs in the gene for the Cystic Fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). Taq DNA Polymerase exhibits 5′ to 3′ exonuclease activity, causing degradation of an e-tag probe hybridized to template DNA at the 3′ end of a PCR primer. In the subject example, sequence-specific e-tag probes with a fluorescent dye attached to the 5′ terminus of the probe were employed. PCR was performed with these probes, followed by separation by gel-based capillary electrophoresis to determine cleavage of the e-tag probe. Table 5 indicates the mutation name, exon location, and the nucleotide change and position of the SNP in the CFTR sequence. The name of the oligonucleotide reagents, including e-tag probes and PCR primers, are indicated for each SNP locus. Two PCR primers were generated to amplify each SNP locus, where F indicates the primer in the forward direction, and R indicates the primer in the reverse direction. Two e-tag probes were generated for each SNP locus—one hybridizing in the sense direction and one in the antisense direction, indicated as “s” or “as,” respectively. The sequence ID numbers of each of these primers and probes are given in Table 6.

TABLE 5 CFTR SNPs, e-tag Probes, and PCR Primers Predicted Mutation Exon Nucleotide PCR e-tag PCR Name Location Change Primers Probe Product Size R560T Exon 11 G1811C CF10P (F/R) CF10s 108 R560T Exon 11 G1811C CF10P (F/R) CF10as 108 D1152H Exon 18 G3586C CF11P (F/R) CF11s 188 D1152H Exon 18 G3586C CE11P (F/R) CF11as 188 G1349D Exon 22 G4178A CF13P (F/R) CF13as 138

TABLE 6 Sequence ID Numbers Oligonucleotide SEQ ID NO. CF10P F SEQ ID NO: 8 CF11P F SEQ ID NO: 9 CF13P F SEQ ID NO: 10 CF10P R SEQ ID NO: 11 CF11P R SEQ ID NO: 12 CF13P R SEQ ID NO: 13 CF10s SEQ ID NO: 14 CF10as SEQ ID NO: 15 CF11s SEQ ID NO: 16 CF11as SEQ ID NO: 17 CF13as SEQ ID NO: 18

The procedure employed in carrying out the singleplex PCR reaction was as follows:

-   1. Make up Master Mix

1x Component 8 μL 25 mM MgCl₂ 2.5 μL 10x PCR Buffer 8 μL 10 ng/μL DNA template 0.2 μL 25 mM dNTPs 1 μL  5 U/μL Taq Gold (added just prior to start of reaction) Combine 0.8 μL of 5 μM probe and 1 μL of 10 μM primers to PCR tubes, as indicated below.

2. Primers Probe CF10P CF10s CF10P CF10as CF11P CF11s CF11P CF11as CF13P CF13as

-   2. Aliquot 20.2 μL of the Master Mix to each tube. -   3. In a PE2400 thermalcycler:     -   96° C.; 10 MIN     -   40 cycles of:     -   95° C.; 10 SEC     -   55° C.; 30 SEC     -   65° C.; 1 MIN     -   70° C.; 10 MIN     -   4° C.; storage

The results are shown in FIG. 23. Results clearly demonstrate formation of a unique electrophoretic tag with a distinct mobility for each amplified sequence. Even in the multiplexed amplification each detection probe gave rise to a unique e-tag reporter with a distinct mobility.

Example 6 Electroseparation of Nine e-tag Reporters on Microfluidic Chip

Label conjugates comprising 9 different fluorescein derivatives linked to thymine: poly deoxythymidine (20-mer; with a 5′ thiol group) is reacted with different maleimide-functionalized fluoresceins after which the product is ethanol precipitated. In a reaction of 12 μL in volume, 10 μL of 25 μM oligo, 1 μL 10×S1 nuclease reaction buffer, 1 μL of S1 nuclease incubated at 37° C. for 30 min followed by 96° C. for 25 min. The digested fragments are purified by HPLC.

The nine different e-tag reporters prepared as described above and fluorescein were combined in an aqueous buffered and were separated and detected in an electrophoresis chip. Detection was 0.5 cm for the injection point on the anodal side of an electrophoresis channel. The results are shown in FIG. 24.

Example 7 Effect of Thiophosphate on 5′-3′ Cleavage

RT-PCR Conditions:

10 μL from a total volume of 25 μL of each mRNA was analyzed in a total volume of 50 μL containing 0.5 μM of each of the oligonucleotide primers, 0.2 mM of each dNTP, 100 nM of each e-tag-labeled oligonucleotide probe, 1×RT PCR buffer, 2.5 mM MgCl₂, 0.1 U/μL Tfl DNA polymerase and 0.1 U/μL AMV Reverse Transcriptase (Promega Access, RT-PCR system).

Reverse Transcription was performed for 45 minutes at 48° C. followed by PCR. (40 thermal cycles of 30 s at 94° C., 1 min at 60° C. and 2 min at 69° C.). mRNA was obtained from M. Williams, Genentech, Inc. Probe and primer design was performed as described in Analytical Biochemistry, 270, 41-49 (1999). Phosphorothioates were attached to the 2, 3, 4 and 5 phosphate moieties from the 5′ end. Separation was performed as described in the previous section.

FIG. 25A demonstrates the formation of 5 different cleavage products in the PCR amplification of ANF (anti-nuclear factor) with an e-tag moiety at the 5′ end of the sequence detection probe. In the second experiment, phosphate groups at the 2, 3, 4 and 5 positions are converted into thiophosphate groups. PCR amplification of ANF using a thiophosphate-modified sequence detection probe yielded only one cleavage product (FIG. 25B).

FIG. 25C demonstrates the formation of 3 different cleavage products in the PCR amplification of GAPDH with an e-tag moiety attached to the 5′ end of the sequence detection probe. In a second experiment, phosphate groups at positions 2 and 3 are converted into thiophosphate groups. PCR amplification of GAPDH using the thiophosphate-modified sequence detection probe yielded one predominant cleavage product (FIG. 25D).

The results clearly demonstrate for two different genes that thiophosphate linkages prevent cleavage at multiple sites of a detection probe. A single detectable entity (a single e-tag reporter, FIGS. 25B and D) is generated as a consequence of the amplification reaction.

Example 8 S1 Nuclease Digestion of e-tag Probes

In a 1.5 ml tube, 10 μL of e-tag probe was added at a concentration of 10 μM, followed by addition of 1.5 μL of 10×S1 nuclease reaction buffer, 0.5 μL of S1 nuclease (Promega, Cat. #M5761, 20-100 unit/μL), and 3 μL of Tris-EDTA buffer to bring the final volume to 15 μL. The reaction was incubated at 37° C. for 20 min followed by 25 min at 96° C. to inactivate the nuclease.

Example 9 5′ Nuclease Assays for Monitoring Specific mRNA Expression in Cell Lysates

THP-1 cells (American Type Culture Collection, Manassas, Va.) were cultured in the presence or absence of 10 nM phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, Mo.) in RPMI 1640 medium with 10% fetal bovine serum (v/v), 2 mM L-glutamine, 10 mM HEPES, 0.05 mM 2-mercaptoethanol. Twenty-four hours after the induction, cells were harvested and washed twice with PBS before lysed with lysis buffer (20 mM Tris pH 7.5, 0.5% Nonidet P-40, 5 mM MgCl₂, 20 ng/μL tRNA) at 25° C., for 5 min. The lysate was heated at 75° C. for 15 min before testing in a 5′ nuclease assay.

Ten microliters of a cell lysate was combined with a single stranded upstream invader DNA oligo, (5′CTC-TCA-GTT-CT), a single stranded downstream biotinylated signal DNA oligo (e-tag-labeled), and 2 ng/μL 5′ nuclease (Cleavase IX) in 20 μL of buffer (10 mM MOPS pH 7.5, 0.05% Tween-20 and 0.05% Nonidet P-40, 12.5 mM MgCl₂, 100 μM ATP, 2 U/μL RNase inhibitor). The reactions were carried out at 60° C. for 4 hours before analysis by capillary electrophoresis. To eliminate background signal, due to the non-specific activity of the enzyme, 1 μL of 1 mg/mL avidin was added to the reactions to remove all the e-tag-labeled uncleaved oligo, or e-tag-labeled non-specifically cleaved oligonucleotides. FIGS. 26 and 27, respectively, show separations that were conducted both with and without the addition of avidin.

Example 10 PCR Amplification with 5′ Nuclease Activity Using e-tag Reporters

Exemplary e-tag reporters are shown in FIG. 17. Elution times for some of these reporters on an ABI 3100 using POP4 as the separation matrix are provided in FIG. 6. The e-tag reporters that were prepared were screened to provide 20 candidates that provided sharp separations. 31 e-tag reporters were generated with synthetic targets using the TaqMan (reagents under conditions as shown in the following tabular format. There were 62 reactions with the synthetic targets (one reaction and one negative control for e-tag reporter). Each 25 μL reaction contained 200 nM probe, 500 nM primer, and 5 fM template in 0.5×TaqMan master mix.

All the individual reactions were then run on an ABI 3100 using POP4 as the separation matrix. The samples were diluted 1:20 in 0.5×TaqMan buffer and 1 μL of avidin (10 mg/mL) was added to bind to any intact probe. The sample was further diluted 1:2 with formamide before injecting the sample into the ABI 3100 capillaries. The following are the conditions used with the ABI 3100 for the separation:

Temperature 60° C. Pre-run voltage 15 kV Pre-run time 180 sec Matrix POP4 Injection voltage 3 kV Injection time 10 sec Run voltage 15 kV Run time 900 sec Run module e-tag reporter POP4 Dye set D

Subsequent separation of multiple e-tag reporters in a single run was accomplished as shown in FIG. 8, the structures of which are identified in FIG. 17.

Example 11 e-tag Reporter Assay for Protein Analysis

A. Labeling of Aminodextran (MW ˜500,000) with e-tag Reporter and Biotin

Aminodextran was used as a model for demonstrating e-tag reporter release in relation to a high molecular weight molecule, which also serves as a model for proteins. The number of amino groups for 10 mg aminodextran was calculated as 2×10⁻⁸ moles. For a ratio of 1:4 biotin to e-tag reporter, the number of moles of biotin NHS ester employed was 1.85×10⁻⁶, and the number of moles of maleimide NHS ester was 7.4×10⁻⁶. 10.9 mg of aminodextran was dissolved in 6 mL of 0.1% PBS buffer. 10 mg of Biotin-x-x NHS ester and 23.7 mg of EMCS were dissolved together in 1 mL of DMF, and added in 50 μL portions at 30 min intervals to the aminodextran solution while it was stirring and keeping away from the light. After the final addition of the DMF solution, the mixture was kept overnight (while stirring and away from the light). Then, the mixture was dialyzed using a membrane with a molecular weight cut-off of 10,000 Daltons. The membrane was immersed in a beaker containing 2 L of water while stirring. The water was changed four times in a 2 h interval. The membrane was kept in the water overnight (while stirring and keeping away from the light). Then the solution was lyophilized and the lyophilized powder was used for e-tag reporter labeling.

B. Reaction of Biotin and Maleimide Labeled Aminodextran with the e-tag Reporter, SAMSA.

SAMSA [5-(((2-(and-3)-S-acetylmercapto)succinoyl)amino)fluorescein] was employed as an e-tag reporter to react with maleimide in the aminodextran molecule. For this purpose 0.3 mg (˜5.3×10⁻⁹ moles) of biotin and EMCS labeled with aminodextran were dissolved in 1 OpI of water and then reacted with 10 times the mol ratio of SAMSA, for the complete conversion of the maleimide to the e-tag reporter. Therefore, 1.1 mg of SAMSA (˜1.2×10⁻⁶ moles) is dissolved in 120 μL of 0.1 M NaOH and incubated at room temperature for 15 min (for the activation of the thiol group). Then the excess of NaOH was neutralized by the addition of 2 μL of 6M HCl, and the pH of the solution was adjusted to 7.0 by the addition of 30 μL of phosphate buffer (200 mM, pH 7.0). The activated SAMSA solution was added to the 10 μL solution of the labeled aminodextran and incubated for 1 h. The e-tag reporter labeled aminodextran was purified with gel filtration using Sephadex G-25 (Amersham), and purified samples were collected.

C. The Release of e-tag Reporter from Labeled Aminodextran

2 μL of streptavidin coated sensitizer beads (100 μg/mL) were added carefully in the dark to the 5 μL of purified labeled aminodextran and incubated in the dark for 15 min. Then the solution was irradiated for 1 min at 680 nm. The release of the e-tag reporter was examined be CE using CE² LabCard™ device. As shown in FIG. 28A, the CE² LabCard 1 consists of two parts; evaporation control and injection/separation. The evaporation control incorporates an evaporation control channel 2 (450 μm wide and 50 μm deep) with two replenishment buffer reservoirs 3 (2 mm in diameter) and the evaporation-controlled sample well 4 (1 mm diameter) in the middle of the evaporation control channel. The volume of the replenishment buffer reservoirs are 4.7 μL while the volume of the sample well is only 1.2 μL, and the volume of the channel 2 beneath the middle sample well is about 40 nL. The second part of the CE² device, which is used for injection and separation, consists of an injection microchannel 5 and a separation microchannel 6, intersecting at a junction 7, and having dimensions of 120 μm wide and 50 μm deep. Both ends of the separation channel and one end or the injection channel connect with buffer reservoirs 8, while the second end of the injection channel connects directly to the evaporation-controlled sample well 4. The channels are enclosed by laminating a film (MT40) to the LabCard™. A detector 9 is positioned 10 mm from the junction. After filling the CE² LabCard device with separation buffer (20 mM HEPES, pH 7.4 and 0.5% PEO), 300 nL of the assay mixture is added to the sample well 4. The sample was injected into the microchannel junction 7 by applying voltages to the buffer reservoirs as indicated in FIG. 28B. The sample was then separated as is shown in FIG. 28C.

FIG. 29 shows the electropherograms of purified labeled aminodextran with and without sensitizer beads. As shown, the addition of the sensitizer beads leads to the release of the e-tag reporter from the aminodextran using singlet oxygen produced by the sensitizer upon irradiation at 680 nm. In order to optimize the irradiation time, different tubes containing the same mixture of beads and sensitizer were irradiated for different lengths of time ranging from 1 to 10 min. There is no significant increase in the e-tag reporter release for irradiation times longer than 1 min. FIG. 30 shows the effect of sensitizer bead concentration on e-tag reporter release. As depicted in FIG. 30, a higher concentration of sensitizer beads leads to greater release of e-tag reporters from the labeled aminodextran. FIG. 31 depicts a linear calibration curve for the release of e-tag reporters as a function of sensitizer bead concentration. In addition, the effect of the concentration of labeled aminodextran on e-tag reporter release was also examined, with the results shown in FIG. 32. As can be seen, a lower concentration of labeled aminodextran for a given concentration of sensitizer beads leads to more efficient e-tag reporter release (or higher ratio of e-tag reporter released to the amount of labeled aminodextran).

Example 3 Clean up of Reaction Mixture Preparation of Reagents

Preparation of Fully Protected Catechol-NHS (Scheme 1)

Catechol-NHS is prepared as set forth in FIG. 56 wherein Py is pyridine, DCC is dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, NHS is N-hydroxysuccinimide and DMF is dimethylformamide.

A. Synthesis of 3,4-diisobutyryloxyphenyl acetic acid (2):

3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl acetic acid (1) (5 g, 0.029 mol) was dissolved in dry pyridine (150 ml), then isobutyric anhydride (15 ml, 3 equiv.) was added and stirred at 80° C. for 18 h. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) on silica gel (2% Methanol+0.5% Acetic Acid+97.5% Dichloromethane) showed that all starting material was converted to a new less polar product. The reaction was stopped by adding 3 ml of water and stirred for about 15 min. at room temperature (RT). Then, the solvent was evaporated under vacuum. The residue was dissolved in dichloromethane, washed three times with brine, dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered, and evaporated under vacuum to give a brown gummy material. This material was purified by flash column chromatography on silica gel (0.5% Acetic Acid+99.5% Dichloromethane) to (1% Methanol+0.5% Acetic Acid+98.5% Dichloromethane) to give a light brown product as one spot by TLC (8.22 g, 90%). ¹HNMR & MS confirmed the structure.

B. Synthesis of N-Succinimidyl-(3,4-diisobutyryloxyphenyl)acetate (3):

3,4-diisobutyrylphenyl acetic acid (2) (8 g, 0.026 mol), 1,3-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC)(8.03 g, 0.039 mol, 1.5 equiv.,), and N-hydroxysuccinamide (NHS) (4.48 g, 0.039 mol, 1.5 equiv.,) were dissolved in 100 ml of dimethylformamide (DMF) and stirred for a period of 16 h at RT. TLC on silica gel (2.5% Methanol+97.5% Dichloromethane) showed that all starting material was converted to a new less polar product. The reaction was stopped by filtering off all DCU byproduct and the solvent was evaporated to dryness. The residue was dissolved in dichloromethane, filtered again, and evaporated to give a light brown material. Column chromatography on silica gel (100% dichloromethane to 1% methanol in dichloromethane), permitted the separation of the product as a yellowish solid material (9.2 g, 88%). ¹HNMR & MS confirmed the structure.

Synthesis of Catechol-dA phosphoramidite (Scheme 3)

The phosphoramidite of catechol-dA is prepared as set forth in FIG. 18 wherein OAc is acetate, TMS is trimethylsilyl, Bz is benzene, DMT is dimethoxytrityl and Pr is propyl.

A—Synthesis of 8-Bromo-2′-Deoxyadenosine:

2′-Deoxyadenosine (1) (7 g. 25.9 mmol) was dissolved in sodium acetate buffer (150, 1 M, pH 5.0) by warming it to about 50° C. The reaction mixture was cooled down to 30° C. and, then 3 ml of bromine in 100 ml of the same buffer was added dropwise at RT for 15 min. After, 6 hrs TLC on silica gel (20% MeOH in CH₂Cl₂) showed that all starting material was converted to a new product. The reaction was discolored by adding some sodium metabisulfite (Na₂S₂O₅) while it was stirring, the color changed to a white solution; the pH of the reaction was neutralized by adding NaOH (1M solution). The reaction mixture was kept at 40 C (refrigerator) for 16 hrs. Next day, the solid material was filtered, washed with cold water and then acetone was added to give a solid yellow powder product (5.75 gm. 64%). The structure of this product was confirmed by ¹H NMR and ES-MS.

B—Synthesis of N⁶-Benzoyl-8-bromo-5′-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityl)-2′-Deoxyadenosine (2):

8-Bromo-2′-Deoxyadenosine (7.7 gm. 22.17 mmol) was dried by co-evaporation with dry pyridine and the solid was suspended in 200 ml of dry pyridine followed by the addition of 4,4′-dimethoxytriphenylmethyl chloride (DMT-Cl) (9 gm, 26.6 mmol). After stirring for 4 hrs at RT, TLC on silica gel showed that a new product was formed and some starting material was unreacted. Another amount of DMT-Cl (3 g) was added and stirred at RT for 2 hrs. When TLC showed that all starting material was converted to new product with higher Rf, the reaction mixture was cooled to 0° C. and trimethylchlorosilane (12.042 gm., 14 ml, 110.85 mmol) was added dropwise; and after 40 min., while stirring, benzoyl chloride (15.58 gm, 12.88 ml, 110.85 mmol) was similarly added. The reaction was allowed to react at RT over 2 hrs. The reaction was quenched by slow addition of cold water (50 ml), followed by addition of concentrated ammonia (30%, 50 ml). After 30 min. the reaction mixture was evaporated to dryness. The residue was dissolved in water, and the solution was extracted with ethyl acetate three times, the organic layer washed with saturated sodium bicarbonate solution and then with brine. The organic phase was dried over sodium sulphate and evaporated to dryness. The product was purified by silica column chromatography to give a yellowish solid product (6.79 g, 41.6%). The structure of this product was confirmed by H NMR and ES-MS.

C—Synthesis of N⁶-benzoyl-8-(4,7,10-trioxa-1-tridecaneamino)-5′-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityl)-2′-deoxyadenosine (3):

N⁶-Benzoyl-8-bromo-5′-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityl)-2′-deoxyadenosine (2) (10 gm, 13.57 mmol) was dissolved in 600 ml of dry ethanol then 4,7,10-trioxa-1,13-tridecanediamine (12 ml.) was added at once and stirring was continued at RT. After 16 hrs, TLC on silica gel (5% MeOH+1% TEA+94% CH₂Cl₂) showed that all starting material was converted to one major product with lower Rf and other minor products. The solvent was evaporated to dryness under vacuum without any heat and the residue was re-dissolved in dichloromethane, washed three times with brine, dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄, and evaporated to give a yellow gummy material. Flash column chromatography on silica gel (1% TEA+CH₂Cl₂) to (1% TEA+5% MeOH+CH₂Cl₂) permitted the purification of the major product as a yellow foamy material (9.43 g. 80%). This product was identified with HNMR and ES-MS.

D—Synthesis of N⁶-benzoyl-8-[13-(N-(3,4-diisobutyryloxyphenyl)acetate)(4,7,10-trioxa-1-tridecaneamino)]-5′-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityl)-2′-deoxyadenosine (4):

Compound (3) (4 g, 4.56 mmol) was dissolved in 45 ml of dry DMF and N-succinimidyl-(3,4-diisobutyryloxyphenyl)acetate (2.2 g, 5.47 mmol) was added after was dissolved in 20 ml of dry DMF???. After the reaction was stirred at RT for 30 min, TLC on silica gel (5% methanol+1% TEA+CH₂Cl₂) showed that all starting material was converted to a new product less polar than starting material. The reaction was stopped by evaporating all the solvent to dryness under vacuum. The residue was re-dissolved in dichloromethane, washed five times with brine, dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered, and evaporated to give a yellow gummy material. TLC (2.5% methanol+1% TEA+CH₂Cl₂) showed that the material contained one major product and one minor product. Flash column chromatography on silica gel (1% TEA+99% CH₂Cl₂ to 1% MeOH+1% TEA+98% CH₂Cl₂) permitted the purification of the product. The fractions containing the product were evaporated to give a yellowish foamy product (3.33 g, 62%). ¹HNMR & MS confirmed the structure of the product.

E—Synthesis of N⁶-benzoyl-8-(13-(N-(3,4-diisobutyryloxyphenyl)acetate)(4,7,10-trioxa-1-tridecaneamino))-3′-O-[(diisopropylamine)(2-cyanoethoxy)phosphino)]-5′-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityl)-2′-deoxyadenosine (5):

Compound (4) (0.5 g, 0.424 mmol) was dried by co-evaporation twice from a mixture of dry pyridine and dichloromethane, then was dissolved in 20 ml of dry dichloromethane and cooled down to 0° C. in an ice bath under nitrogen. Diisopropylamine (0.370 ml, 2.12 mmol) was added and the mixture was stirred for 5 min.; and 2′-cyanoethyl N,N-diisopropylchlorophosphoramidite (0.200 ml, 0.88 mmol) was added in 2 min., while the reaction was stirred vigorously. The reaction was stirred for 30 min. at 0° C. TLC on silica gel (5% TEA+47.5% ethyl acetate+47.5% CH₂Cl₂) showed that all starting material was converted to a new product with higher Rf. The reaction was stopped by adding about 0.2 ml of dry methanol and stirring for 10 min. The reaction mixture then was washed three times with brine, dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered, and evaporated to dryness. The product was purified by flash column chromatography on silica gel (5% TEA+47.5% hexane+47.5% ethyl acetate to +5% TEA+47.5% ethyl acetate+47.5% CH₂Cl₂). The fractions containing the product were evaporated to give a yellow gummy product (0.420 g, 72%). This material was co-evaporated three times from a mixture of dry dichloromethane and dry benzene under high vacuum and was kept under vacuum for 24 h in a desiccator over P₂O₅ and NaOH pellets before it was used for the synthesis of oligonucleotides.

Synthesis of Catechol-dG Phosphoramidite (Scheme 6)

The phosphoramidite of catechol-dG is prepared as set forth in FIG. 59 wherein Pyr is pyridine, MeO is methoxy and iPr is isopropyl.

A—Synthesis of 8-(4,7,10-trioxa-1-tridecaneamino)-2′-deoxyquanosine (2):

2′-Deoxyguanosine (15 g, 43 mmol) and 4,7,10-trioxa-1-tridecanediamine (150 ml) were heated together at 120° C. for 18 h while stirring. TLC on silica gel (20% MeOH+1% TEA+79% CH₂Cl₂) showed that all starting material was converted to a very polar product, which give a positive test with the ninhydrin test. The reaction was cooled down; dichloromethane was added. The reaction mixture was stirred and decanted. This procedure was repeated three times to remove all the diamine. The product was a brown gummy material and was re-dissolved in a mixture of methanol and dichloromethane and precipitated from ether to give a gummy product. Flash column chromatography on silica gel (10% MeOH+1% TEA+89% CH₂Cl₂ to 70% MeOH+1% TEA+29% CH₂Cl₂) permitted the purification of the product as a light brown foamy material (18.92 g, 90%). This product was identified with HNMR and ES-MS.

B—Synthesis of 8-[13-(N-(3,4-diisobutyryloxyphenyl)acetate)(4,7,10-trioxa-1-tridecaneamido)]-2′-deoxyguanosine (3):

Compound (3) is prepared by reacting compound (2) with N-Succinimidyl-(3,4-diisobutyryloxyphenyl)acetate as in the preparation of catechol-dA (compound 4, scheme 3).

C—Synthesis of N²-(N,N′-dimethylformamide)-8-[13-(N-(3,4-diisobutyryloxyphenyl)acetate)(4,7,10-trioxa-1-tridecaneamino)]-2′-deoxyguanosine (4):

Compound (4) is be prepared by reacting compound (3) with N,N′-dimethylformamide dimethylacetal in dry methanol at RT for 18 h as described by Brian S. Sproat, et al., Nucleic Acids Research, 18, (1990), 41-49.

D—Synthesis of N²-(N,N′-dimethylformamide)-8-[13-(N-(3,4-diisobutyryloxyphenyl)acetate)(4,7,10-trioxa-1-tridecaneamino)]-5′-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityl)-2′-deoxyguanosine (5):

Tritylation of compound (4) is achieved by reacting compound (4) with DMT-Cl in dry pyridine as described for catechol-dC (compound 4, scheme 4).

E—Synthesis of N²-(N,N′-dimethylformamide)-8-[13-(N-(3,4-diisobutyryloxyphenyl)acetate)(4,7,10-trioxa-1-tridecaneamino)]-3′-O-[(diisopropylamine)(2-cyanoethoxy)phosphino)]-5′-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityl)-2′-deoxyguanosine (6):

Phosphytilation of compound (5) is achieved as described for catechol-dA & catechol-dC.

Synthesis of Catechol-dC phosphoramidite (Scheme 4)

The phosphoramidite of catechol-dC is prepared as set forth in FIG. 60.

A—Synthesis of N⁴-(4,7,10-trioxa-1-tridecaneamino)-2′-Deoxycytidine (2):

This product was prepared according to a procedure published in J. Am. Chem. Soc. (1989), 111, p 6966-6976, with the exception that 4,7,10-trioxa-1,13-tridecanediamine was used instead of 1,3-diaminopropane. ¹HNMR & MS confirmed the structure of the product.

B—Synthesis of N⁴-[13-(N-(3,4-diisobutyryloxyphenyl)acetate)(4,7,10-trioxa-1-tridecaneamino)]-2′-Deoxycytidine (3):

Compound (2) (2.23 g, 5.17 mmol) was dissolved in 25 ml of dry DMF and N-succinimidyl-(3,4-diisobutyryloxyphenyl)acetate (2.5 g, 6.2 mmol) was added after was dissolved in 10 ml of dry DMF???. After the reaction was stirred at RT for 2 h, TLC on silica gel (20% methanol in dichloromethane) showed that all starting material was converted to a new product less polar than starting material. The reaction was stopped by evaporating all the solvent to dryness under vacuum. The residue was re-dissolved in dichloromethane, washed five times with water, dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered, and evaporated to give a yellow oily material. Flash column chromatography on silica gel (100% dichloromethane to 10% methanol in dichloromethane). The fractions containing the product were evaporated to give a yellowish foamy product (2 g, 54%). ¹HNMR & MS confirmed the structure of the product.

C—Synthesis of N⁴-[13-(N-(3,4-diisobutyryloxyphenyl)acetate)(4,7,10-trioxa-1-tridecaneamino)]-5′-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytriphenylmethyl)-2′-deoxycytidine (4):

Compound (3) (1.82 g, 2.52 mmol) was co-evaporated twice from dry pyridine under high vacuum and then was dissolved in 20 ml of dry pyridine; 4,4′-dimethoxytrityl chloride (1.28 g, 3.78 mmol) was added and stirred at RT. After 4 h, TLC on silica gel (10% MeOH+1% TEA+CH₂Cl₂) showed that all starting material was converted to new less polar product. The reaction was stopped by evaporating all pyridine. The residue was re-dissolved in CH₂Cl₂, washed twice with brine, dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered, and evaporated to give a yellow oily material. The product was purified by flash column chromatography on silica gel (1% TEA+CH₂Cl₂ to 1% MeOH+1% TEA+CH₂Cl₂). The fractions containing the product were evaporated to give an off-white foamy product (2 g, 77%). ¹HNMR & MS confirmed the structure of the product.

D—Synthesis of N⁴-[13-(N-(3,4-diisobutyryloxyphenyl)acetate)(4,7,10-trioxa-1-tridecaneamino)]-3′-O-[(diisopropylamine)(2-cyanoethoxy)phosphino)]-5′-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytriphenylmethyl)-2′-deoxycytidine (5):

Compound (4) (1 g, 0.97 mmol) was dried by co-evaporation twice from a mixture of dry pyridine and dichloromethane and then was dissolved in 20 ml of dry dichloromethane and cooled down to 0° C. in an ice bath under nitrogen. Diisopropylamine (0.838 ml, 4.8 mmol) was added and stirred for 5 min., and 2′-cyanoethyl N,N-diisopropylchlorophosphoramidite (0.325 ml, 1.45 mmol) was added in 5 min. while the reaction mixture was stirred vigorously. The reaction was stirred for 30 min. at 0° C. TLC on silica gel (10% TEA+45% ethyl acetate+45% CH₂Cl₂) showed that all starting material was converted to a new less polar product. The reaction was stopped by adding about 0.2 ml of dry methanol. The reaction mixture was stirred for 5 min. and then was washed three times with brine, dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered, and evaporated to give a yellow oily material. This product was purified by flash column chromatography on silica gel (5% TEA+20% hexane+75% ethyl acetate to +10% TEA+45% ethyl acetate+45% CH₂Cl₂). The fractions containing the product were evaporated to give a yellowish foamy product (0.510 g, 43%). This material was co-evaporated twice from a mixture of dry dichloromethane and benzene under high vacuum. The material was kept under vacuum for 24 h in a desiccator over P₂O₅ and NaOH pellets before it was used for the synthesis of oligonucleotides.

Synthesis of Catechol-dT Phosphoramidite (Scheme 5)

The phosphoramidite of catechol-dT is prepared as set forth in FIG. 61.

A—Synthesis of 5′-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityl)-2′-deoxyuridine-5-(propionic acid methyl ester) (2):

This compound is synthesized as described in J. Am. Chem. Soc. (1989), 111, p 6966-6976.

B—Synthesis of 5′-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityl)-2′-deoxyuridine-5-[N-(13-(4,7,10-trioxa-1-tridecaneamino))]propionamide (3):

Compound (3) is made by reacting compound (2) with 4,7,10-trioxa-1,13-tridecanediamine instead of ethylenediamine as described by Dreyer, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. (1985), 82, 968.

C—Synthesis of 5′-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityl)-2′-deoxyuridine-5-[13-(N-(3,4-diisobutyryloxyphenyl)acetate)(4,7,10-trioxa-1-tridecaneamino)]propionamide (4):

Compound (4) is made by reacting compound (3) with N-Succinimidyl-(3,4-diisobutyryloxyphenyl)acetate in dry DMF as described in the preparation of catechol-dA and catechol-dC.

D—Synthesis of 3′-O-[(diisopropylamine)(2-cyanoethoxy)phosphino)]-5′-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityl)-2′-deoxyuridine-5-[13-(N-(3,4-diisobutyryloxyphenyl)acetate)(4,7,10-trioxa-1-tridecaneamino)]propionamide (5):

Compound (5) can be prepared by phosphitylation of compound (4) as described in the preparation of catechol-dA phosphoramidite.

Synthesis of Oligomer Containing Catechol:

Oligonucleotides containing a catechol moiety are prepared as set forth in FIG. 57 wherein RT is room temperature and HPLC is high pressure liquid chromatography.

Synthesis of oligonucleotides containing catechol are carried out either by fully automated DNA synthesizer or by post-DNA synthesis.

A—Synthesis of Oligonucleotides Containing Catechol-dA or Catechol-dC on a Solid Support using DNA Synthesizer:

Syntheses of oligonucleotides containing Catechol-dA or Catechol-dC site-specifically located were performed on a CPG support using a fully automated DNA synthesizer and commercially available, protected deoxynucleoside 2-cyanoethyl phosphoramidites for ultramild synthesis. Syntheses of all oligonucleotides were carried out at 0.2 μmol scale. The DNA synthetic cycle consisted essentially of ditritylation, condensation, capping, and oxidation stages. Coupling time was increase to 15 min. when DMT-phosphoramidite of catechol-dA or catechol-dC incorporated. Coupling efficiency of the modified DMT phosphoramidite of catechol-dA or catechol-dC in the syntheses of oligonucleotides was found to be about 98%. Upon completion of the synthesis, all base-labile protecting groups on the oligonucleotides were removed by treatment with concentrated ammonia in the presence of either mercaptoethanol (0.25 M), or 5 mg of ascorbic acid at RT for 2 h. The oligomer was purified by HPLC on a reverse-phase column, then was desalted and used as such.

B—Synthesis of Oligonucleotides Containing Catechol by Post-Synthesis of DNA (Scheme 2):

The first step was the synthesis of oligonucleotides, 3-mer and 14-mer, containing an amino group in any desired location followed by purification. These oligomers were reacted individually with 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl acetic acid-NHS in a buffer at pH 9 overnight at RT. The oligomers were re-purified by HPLC on reverse phase column and desalted and used as such in the experiments shown in the FIGS. 44-48.

Clean Up Reactions

The following example is depicted in FIG. 43. Two oligonucleotides (3 and 14 mers) containing an amino group at the penultimate base were synthesized by standard procedures, purified by HPLC and then reacted with 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl acetic acid-NHS (4 mg) prepared as described above and set forth in FIG. 57, then re-purified with HPLC. In this manner, a catechol group was introduced into the oligonucleotides. This material was added to a pre-treated Boronate Affinity Gel (Affi-Gel 601, BioRad) at pH 8 to 9 and incubated for 30 min. The supernatant was centrifuged and was analyzed by capillary electrophoresis using an ABI 3100 machine (Applied BioSystems, Inc., Foster City Calif.). Fluorescein was used as an internal standard. The results are depicted in FIGS. 44-48.

It is evident from the above results that the subject inventions provide powerful ways of preparing compositions for use in multiplexed determinations and methods for performing multiplexed determinations using such compositions. The methods provide for homogeneous and heterogeneous protocols, both with nucleic acids and proteins, as exemplary of other classes of compounds. In the nucleic acid determinations, SNP determinations are greatly simplified where the protocol can be performed in only one to four vessels and a large number of SNPs readily determined within a short period of time with great efficiency and accuracy. For other sequences, genomes can be investigated from both prokaryotes and eukaryotes, including for the prokaryotes, drug resistance, species, strain, etc., and for the eukaryotes, species, cell type, response to external stimuli, e.g. drugs, physical changes in environment, etc., mutations, chiasmas, etc. With proteins, one can determine the response of the host cell, organelles or the like to changes in the chemical and physical environments in relation to a plurality of pathways, changes in the surface protein population, changes due to aging, neoplasia, activation, or other naturally occurring phenomenon, where the amount of protein can be quantitated.

Particularly as to nucleic acid determinations, the subject e-tag reporters can be synthesized conveniently along with the synthesis of the oligonucleotides used as probes, primers, etc., where the e-tag reporter is released in the presence of the homologous target sequence. Kits of building blocks or e-tag reporters are provided for use in the different determinations.

It is further evident from the above results that the subject invention provides an accurate, efficient and sensitive process, as well as compositions for use in the process, to perform multiplexed reactions. The protocols provide for great flexibility in the manner in which determinations are carried out and maybe applied to a wide variety of situations involving haptens, antigens, nucleic acids, cells, etc., where one may simultaneously perform a number of determinations on a single or plurality of samples and interrogate the samples for a plurality of events. The events may vary from differences in nucleic acid sequence to proteomics to enzyme activities. The results of the determination are readily read in a simple manner using electrophoresis or mass spectrometry. Systems are provided where the entire process, after addition of the sample and reagents, may be performed under the control of a data processor with the results automatically recorded.

All publications and patent applications cited in this specification are herein incorporated by reference as if each individual publication or patent application were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in light of the teachings of this invention that certain changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit or scope of the appended claims. 

1. A method for separating a releasable predetermined portion of a first reagent of a mixture from other components thereof, the method comprising: (a) combining (i) a first reagent comprising a releasable predetermined portion that includes a detectable moiety wherein the predetermined portion is attached to the first reagent by a cleavable moiety and wherein the first reagent comprises at least one interactive functionality adjacent the predetermined portion positioned in the first reagent such that the interactive functionality does not form part of the predetermined portion upon release thereof and (ii) a second reagent that potentiates the cleavage of the cleavable moiety, (b) subjecting the combination to conditions under which the cleavable moiety is cleaved to release the predetermined portion thereby forming a mixture, (c) including in the mixture a third reagent that comprises a moiety that binds to the interactive functionality resulting in chelation-generated species, and (d) electrophoretically separating the released predetermined portions from the mixture to form an electropherogram from which chelation-generated species are excluded, wherein the interactive functionality is a chelation moiety or a chelator selected from the group consisting of boron-containing reagents, reagents that comprise moieties that bind to boron containing reagents, arsenic containing reagents, reagents that comprise moieties that bind to arsenic containing reagents, transition metals, transition metal chelators, ferrocene containing reagents, and reagents that comprise moieties that bind to ferrocene containing reagents.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first reagent comprises a polynucleotide to which the releasable predetermined portion is attached at a nucleotide thereof.
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein the nucleotide to which the releasable predetermined portion is attached is a terminal nucleotide.
 4. The method according to claims 1, 2, or 3 wherein the predetermined portion includes a mobility modifier.
 5. A method for separating a releasable predetermined portion of an oligonucleotide reagent of a mixture from other components thereof, the method comprising: (a) combining (i) an oligonucleotide reagent comprising a releasable predetermined portion that includes a detectable moiety and a mobility modifier wherein the predetermined portion is attached to a terminal nucleotide of the oligonucleotide reagent by a cleavable moiety and wherein the oligonucleotide reagent has at least one interactive functionality attached thereto and (ii) a reagent that potentiates the cleavage of the cleavable moiety, and (b) subjecting the combination to conditions under which the cleavable moiety is cleaved to release the predetermined portion thereby forming a mixture, (c) including in the mixture a third reagent that comprises a moiety that binds to the interactive functionality resulting in chelation-generated species, and (d) electrophoretically separating the released predetermined portions from the mixture to form an electropherogram from which chelation-generated species are excluded. wherein the interactive functionality is a chelation moiety or a chelator selected from the group consisting of boron-containing reagents, reagents that comprise moieties that bind to boron containing reagents, arsenic containing reagents, reagents that comprise moieties that bind to arsenic containing reagents, transition metals, transition metal chelators, ferrocene containing reagents, and reagents that comprise moieties that bind to ferrocene containing reagents.
 6. The method of claim 4 wherein said third reagent comprises a capture moiety that is a boronic acid moiety and said interactive functionality is a boronic acid complexing moiety having from 5 to 50 carbon atoms selected from the group consisting of ortho-hydroxybenzenes, ortho-hydroxybenzohydroxamic acids, ortho-hydroxybenzoic acids, ortho-hydroxybenzamides, imidazolyl phenols, dihydroxyfumaric acids, hydroxy pyridine aldehydes, hydroxyanthraquinone dioximes.
 7. The method of claim 6 wherein said boronic acid complexing moiety is selected from the group consisting of catechol, salicylamide, N-phenylsalicylamidine, 2-(4′imidazolyl)phenol, 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene, dihydroxyfumaric acid, salicylaldehyde, 3-hydroxypyridine-4-aldehyde, pyridoxamine, 1-hydroxyanthraquinone dioxime, disalicylimide.
 8. The method of claim 7 wherein said chelation-generated species has a positive charge.
 9. The method of claim 8 wherein said third reagent is boronated aminodextran.
 10. The method of claim 5 wherein said third reagent comprises a capture moiety that is a boronic acid moiety and said interactive functionality is a boronic acid complexing moiety having from 5 to 50 carbon atoms selected from the group consisting of ortho-hydroxybenzenes, ortho-hydroxybenzohydroxamic acids, ortho-hydroxybenzoic acids, ortho-hydroxybenzamides, imidazolyl phenols, dihydroxyfumaric acids, hydroxy pyridine aldehydes, hydroxyanthraquinone dioximes.
 11. The method of claim 10 wherein said boronic acid complexing moiety is selected from the group consisting of catechol, salicylamide, N-phenylsalicylamidine, 2-(4′imidazolyl)phenol, 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene, dihydroxyfumaric acid, salicylaldehyde, 3-hydroxypyridine-4-aldehyde, pyridoxamine, 1-hydroxyanthraquinone dioxime, disalicylimide.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein said chelation-generated species has a positive charge.
 13. The method of claim 12 wherein said third reagent is boronated aminodextran.
 14. The method according to claims 5, 10, 11, 12, or 13 wherein said releasable predetermined portion is an e-tag reporter and wherein said step of separating includes separating the e-tag reporter by electrophoresis. 